Senate voted 52-48 to acquit Trump of abuse of power stemming from his request that Ukraine investigate political rival Joe Biden, a contender for the Democratic nomination to face him in the November 3 election.

US President Donald Trump was on February 5 acquitted in his Senate impeachment trial. His fellow Republicans rallied to protect him nine months before he seeks voters to get himself a second term in the White House.

Trump, 73, survived only the third presidential impeachment trial in US history — just like the other two impeached presidents — in his turbulent presidency's darkest chapter.

The businessman-turned-politician now plunges into a presidential election season that promises to further polarize the country.

Trump was acquitted largely along party lines on two articles of impeachment approved by the Democratic-led House of Representatives on December 18, 2019.

The votes to convict Trump fell far short of the two-thirds majority required in the 100-seat Senate to remove him from office under the US Constitution.

The Senate voted 52-48 to acquit Trump of abuse of power stemming from his request that Ukraine investigate political rival Joe Biden, a contender for the Democratic nomination to face him in the November 3 election. Republican Senator Mitt Romney joined the Democrats in voting to convict. No Democrat voted to acquit.

The Senate then voted 53-47 to acquit him of obstruction of Congress by blocking witnesses and documents sought by the House. Romney joined the rest of the Republican senators in voting to acquit on the obstruction charge. No Democrat voted to acquit.

On each of the two charges, the senators stood at their desks on the Senate floor to vote one by one, with U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.

Trump watched the Senate vote with top aides in a White House dining room that he uses as a private study, a senior administration official said. Trump said he would deliver a public statement at noon (1700 GMT) on February 6 "to discuss our Country's VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax!"

On Twitter, the president posted a video showing Trump campaign signs for future elections from 2024 onward ending with "Trump 4EVA."

The US Constitution limits a president to two elected four-year terms in office.

Souce:Momeycontrol.com