By Boniface Ihiasota
In a highly partisan US Senate impeachment trial, President Donald Trump has been acquitted. The trial ended on 5th February 2020, one day after Trump delivered a polarizing State of the Union address.
Trump was acquitted largely along party lines on two articles of impeachment approved by the Democratic-led House of Representatives on December 18, 2019.
Under the US Constitution, the votes fell short of the two-thirds majority required in the 100-seat Senate to remove President Trump from office.
The Senate voted 52-48 to acquit him of abuse of power stemming from his request that Ukraine investigate political rival Joe Biden, a contender for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in the November 3 election.
The Senate also voted 53-47 to acquit Trump of obstruction of Congress by blocking witnesses and documents sought by the House.
