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Trump impeachment trial live updates: Biden says charge 'not in dispute' in 1st comments on acquittal

PHOTO: President Joe Biden waves as he boards Air Force One before departing from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Feb. 12, 2021.
5:57
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Senate votes to acquit former President Donald Trump
By Libby Cathey, Michelle Stoddart, Lauren King, Lauren Lantry
Last Updated: February 11, 2021, 11:02 PM

Former President Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial ended with a 57-43 vote to acquit in the Senate. He faced a single charge of incitement of insurrection over his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Top headlines:

  • Biden praises police officers, calls charge 'not in dispute' in 1st comments
  • Pelosi blasts McConnell, others who voted to acquit as 'cowardly group of Republicans'
  • Managers highlight McConnell's agreement that they proved case
  • McConnell says Trump solely to blame for attack after voting to acquit
  • Schumer speaks on Senate floor
  • Senate votes to acquit Trump: 57-43
Here is how events are unfolding. All times Eastern.

Feb 11, 2021 11:02 PM

House manager appears to signal no witnesses will be called

Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., was asked Thursday evening if the House impeachment managers need to call witnesses or if they feel they’ve made their case.

"I think we've made our case," she said.

PHOTO: Rep. Eric Swalwell, right, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Ted Lieu, Delegate Stacey Plaskett, and Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., far left, walk to the Senate for the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, Feb. 9, 2021, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., right, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., Delegate Stacey Plaskett, D-V.I., and Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., far left, and other impeachment managers, walk through the Rotunda to the Senate for the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, Feb. 9, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., is behind Delegate Stacey Plaskett, D-V.I.
Alex Brandon/AP

"I'm so contented that we put forward the very best case. It's up to the American people," Dean said in an exchange with another reporter. "The American people witnessed this, the senators witnessed this."

In Trump's 2019 Senate impeachment trial, Democrats requested to call witnesses, but Republicans blocked the move.

-ABC News' Trish Turner


Feb 11, 2021 9:38 PM

Raskin asks senators to practice 'common sense'

After roughly 10 hours of arguments, lead House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., wrapped opening arguments for the group acting as prosecutors in the Senate trial against Trump.

"Mr. President, members of the Senate, first of all, thank you for your close attention and seriousness of purpose that you've demonstrated over the last few days. Thank you, also, for your courtesy to the House managers as we've come over here -- strangers in a strange land -- to make our case before this distinguished body," Raskin said with a light smile.

He reminded senators of their oaths to render impartial justice and walked them through their constitutional duties. He also reminded them that the Senate has already voted that the trial is constitutional, so their final votes on conviction should be based on the facts his team presented, not on whether they agree with the trial.

PHOTO: In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Feb. 11, 2021.
Senate Television via AP
In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Feb. 11, 2021.
Senate Television via AP

"Senators, I've talked a lot about common sense in this trial, because I think, I believe that's all you need to arrive at the right answer here," Raskin said. "When Tom Payne wrote 'Common Sense,' the pamphlet that launched the American Revolution, he said that common sense really meant two different things."

"One, common sense is the understanding that we all have, without advanced learning and education, common sense is the sense accessible to everybody. But common sense is also the sense that we all have in common -- as a community. Senators, America, we need to exercise our common sense about what happened," Raskin said, reaching out to Republicans in a divided Washington.

"Let's not get caught up in a lot of outlandish lawyers' theories here. Exercise your common sense about what just took place in our country," he said.

PHOTO: Trump supporters gather outside the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.
John Minchillo/AP
Trump supporters gather outside the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.
John Minchillo/AP

PHOTO: Police with guns drawn watch as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Police with guns drawn watch as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

PHOTO: Supporters of President Donald Trump protest inside the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
Supporters of President Donald Trump protest inside the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

Raskin closed by telling the chamber, "Good luck in your deliberations."


Feb 11, 2021 9:28 PM

Senate adjourns as House managers conclude opening arguments

The House managers have finished laying out their case against Trump and the Senate has adjourned for the day.

The trial will resume at noon on Friday, when Trump's legal team will deliver their argument.



Feb 11, 2021 9:17 PM

Raskin closing out House managers' opening arguments

Lead House manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said the managers are wrapping up their opening arguments in Trump's second impeachment trial.

"We think we have been able to tell you everything we need to say," Raskin said, noting that the managers are 5-6 hours under the time allotted to them.

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders and Benjamin Siegel


Feb 12, 2021 8:20 PM

Trump defense team wraps arguments

The Senate is taking a roughly 15-minute break following roughly three hours of arguments from Trump's defense team.

The trial will move forward with the question and answer portion after the break.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel


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