WASHINGTON — By a vote of 52-48, President Donald Trump was found not guilty on the charge of abuse of power in his Senate impeachment trial.
Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the only Republican to vote in favor of a conviction. Trump was also acquitted on the second charge of obstruction of Congress by a strictly party-line vote of 53-47.
Last month, Trump became the third president in American history to be impeached by the House of Representatives, but like the previous two (Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton) will remain in office after the Senate could not get the two-thirds majority (67 votes) needed for removal. As expected, reaction has been swift from both sides.
Two Ohioans on opposite ends of the political spectrum played a direct roll in the proceedings: Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown voted to convict the president on both charges, while Republican Sen. Rob Portman voted to acquit. Shortly after the verdict, Brown posted a just-published op-ed he wrote for The New York Times, claiming many of his GOP colleagues only voted not guilty out of fear.
Portman, who last week called the president's actions in Ukraine that were at the center of the inquiry "inappropriate," say Congress should "let the American people decide" this November in the election. He also called on the Senate to "get back to work" pushing "bipartisan legislation."
Here's how members of Congress who represent Northeast Ohio reacted to the final vote.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R) - 4th district
Rep. Bill Johnson (R) - 6th district
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D) - 9th district
"The strength of America’s greatness cannot be attributed to one man, but to the force and determination of an entire people as diverse as the land we call home. Today’s vote to acquit President Trump is as much a reflection of the deep partisan divide in this country as it is a result. Despite overwhelming evidence and testimony, I fear President Trump, as well as future presidents of both parties, will be emboldened to undermine our democracy, subvert accountability, and avoid transparency with impunity because of the precedent set by the Senate Majority this evening."
"I am thankful for the bravery of individuals such as Senator Romney, who broke with the Republican Party by voting to convict President Trump for abuse of power. Such an act of patriotism should not be difficult, though sadly, it has proven to be a bridge too far for the Senate Majority. I align myself with the words he spoke on the floor of the Senate this afternoon:
"'There’s no question that the President asked a foreign power to investigate his political foe. That he did so for a political purpose, and that he pressured Ukraine to get them to help or to lead in this effort. My own view is that there’s not much I can think of that would be a more egregious assault on our Constitution than trying to corrupt an election to maintain power. And that’s what the President did.'
"The fact that Senator Romney and so many Democrats, especially those from moderate districts and states, stood up for what is right in the face of adversity is a testament that reason has not entirely escaped our politics. Regrettably, however, the inevitable degradation of our discourse, our institutions, and our democracy will be a price our country pays for the Senate Republicans’ cover-up of President Trump’s wrongdoings in Ukraine. The fact that Republicans voted to block additional witnesses and documents will forever be a stain on what has ling been called the world’s greatest deliberative body.
"For as long as I am in Congress, I will use any and all institutional power I have to hold President Trump and his Administration accountable to the people of this country and to those in Northern Ohio in particular. Such is my duty."
Rep. Tim Ryan (D) - 13th district
'IT WAS JUST LIE AFTER LIE AFTER LIE': Rep. Tim Ryan explains walking out of State of the Union Address to 3News
Ryan also spoke with 3News earlier Wednesday about his original vote to impeach the president.
This story will be updated as more reactions come in.