Donald Trump gave a message for those who would vote to convict him in an impeachment trial: There will be consequences.
The Senate vote was 57 guilty, 43 not guilty. Seven GOP senators joined with Democrats in the vote.
“The Republicans who joined with the Democrats were: Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania,” CBS reported.
These were names were among the seven senators that were most believed would vote in favor of a Trump impeachment conviction, as previously reported here. The only one who voted against conviction was former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who found a technicality to explain his not guilty vote: Donald Trump is now a private citizen.
However, McConnell’s speech suggested that Donald Trump might still be prosecuted by the Biden Department of Justice.
The seven GOP senators who gave the Trump impeachment trial political cover are always going to be associated with this vote in the minds of the Republican base.
And far from being a politically vanquished figure, Donald Trump has given plenty of indication that he has no qualms against fundraising and using the media against his Republican adversaries.
In January, it was reported here that Donald Trump was considering either backing a third party or sponsoring the primarying of his Republican opponents.
The Washington Post report continues to attempt explaining why former President Trump would entertain such a threat:
Multiple people in Trump’s orbit, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, say Trump has told people that the third-party threat gives him leverage to prevent Republican senators from voting to convict him during the Senate impeachment trial. Trump advisers also say they plan to recruit opposing primary candidates and commission polling next week in districts of targeted lawmakers. Trump has more than $70 million in campaign cash banked to fund his political efforts, these people say.
The following senators who voted for Trump’s conviction are up for re-election in 2022: Lisa Murkowski, Richard Burr and Rob Portman. Mitt Romney’s term ends in 2025, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy and Ben Sasse in 2027.
Politically, these senators might want to keep their head on a swivel. Donald Trump has a long memory and he is not liable to forget what they did today.
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OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author's opinion.