Fact Check: "Donald Trump Correctly Convicted and Impeached"
What We Know
Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, was impeached twice during his term. The first impeachment occurred in December 2019, primarily related to a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where Trump was accused of soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 election. The House of Representatives passed two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. However, during the Senate trial in February 2020, Trump was acquitted as neither article received the two-thirds majority required for conviction (Donald J. Trump - Federal Impeachment).
The second impeachment took place on January 13, 2021, following the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump was charged with incitement of insurrection. The House passed this article of impeachment, but again, during the Senate trial in February 2021, Trump was acquitted, with only 57 senators voting to convict, falling short of the necessary two-thirds majority (Second impeachment of Donald Trump, Senate Acquits Trump In Impeachment Trial — Again).
Analysis
The claim that Donald Trump was "correctly convicted and impeached" is misleading. While he was indeed impeached twice, he was not convicted in either instance. Impeachment is a formal charge brought by the House of Representatives, but conviction requires a Senate trial and a two-thirds majority vote, which Trump did not receive in either case (H.Res.24 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, ArtII.S4.4.9 President Donald Trump and Impeachable Offenses).
The first impeachment focused on allegations of abuse of power related to Ukraine, while the second centered on the events surrounding the Capitol riot. In both trials, the Senate acquitted Trump, meaning he was not found guilty of the charges against him (Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Trump’s impeachment, a guide).
The sources used in this analysis are credible and provide a comprehensive overview of the impeachment process, including the legal definitions and historical context. The information is corroborated by multiple reliable outlets, including congressional records and major news organizations.
Conclusion
The verdict on the claim that Donald Trump was "correctly convicted and impeached" is False. While he was impeached twice, he was acquitted in both Senate trials and thus was never convicted of the charges brought against him. The distinction between impeachment and conviction is crucial in understanding the outcome of these proceedings.
Sources
- H.Res.24 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of ...
- ArtII.S4.4.9 President Donald Trump and Impeachable Offenses
- Donald J. Trump - Federal Impeachment
- Second impeachment of Donald Trump
- Impeachment Trial: Trump Is Acquitted by the Senate
- Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump
- Senate Acquits Trump In Impeachment Trial — Again
- Trump’s impeachment, a guide - Washington Post