Umamageswari Maruthappan
Former US President Donald Trump was acquitted on 13th February 2021 during the second trial of impeachment for the charge of inciting the January 5, 2021 violence. However, the current acquittal cannot be held as a final decision and experts are suggesting to move the Courts as a next step.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said, “President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office, as an ordinary citizen, unless the statute of limitations has run.” He further believed that Courts can be a more suitable place for upholding accountability.
It was alleged that the former President had instigated the crowd to march towards the White House on 5th January 2021, where Joe Biden’s Presidency was to be officially affirmed.
However, Trump’s Counsels asserted that there was no illegality in his actions. Further, Donald Trump had also not acknowledged any wrongdoings.
Attorney general for the District of Columbia, Karl Racine, said that the District prosecutors are looking for local laws that criminalize statements that motivate people to violence to convict Trump. Such charge is of a minor nature which imposes punishment for a maximum of six months imprisonment.
Donald Trump was held under impeachment trials following a violent attack on 5th January 2021 opposing Joe Biden’s Election Victory.
It was reportedly stated that it was Trump’s words that aroused several thousands of people to gather outside the White House.
However, more investigations are being made to see the extremity of the relation between Trump’s incitement and the attack.
Donald Trump is the third US President to get trapped into impeachment proceedings.
Read also: US Senate acquitted Donald Trump for inciting Capitol Hill violence
