Senate Republicans turned the impeachment trial of Donald Trump into a cover-up, and what they weren’t able to cover up, they—with one notable exception—have now dismissed as meaningless. The Senate voted 52 to 48 to acquit Donald Trump on abuse of power, with every Republican but Sen. Mitt Romney voting to acquit, and 53 to 47 to acquit on obstruction of Congress, with Romney joining the rest of the Republicans. Romney earlier announced his decision in an emotional speech that was a challenge and a rebuke to those of his Republican colleagues who voted to acquit despite having voted to hear witnesses or despite having said that Donald Trump did something wrong and the House managers proved it.
Trying to cheat in an election? These Republicans are fine with it, as long as it benefits Republicans. Withholding aid to another country for your own personal benefit? Again, fine by Republican senators, if you’re on their team. This vote will inextricably link the legacy of these Republican senators with Trump’s own legacy. They will go down in history as people who embraced abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.