Senate Acquits Trump of 2 Impeachment Articles, Concluding Historic and Wrenching Trial

The Republican-controlled Senate, as has been expected since last week, voted Wednesday to acquit President Donald Trump on the two impeachment articles against him -- that he abused his high office and obstructed Congress' efforts to investigate the matter.

On the first article, abuse of power, the vote was 52-48. On the second, obstruction, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who'd broken ranks with the GOP on the first vote, rejoined the party and voted to acquit. That made the final vote 53-47 in favor of acquittal.

In voting as it did shortly after 4 p.m. ET, GOP lawmakers railed against what they say was a rushed process by the House of Representatives, while Democrats decried Trump as a threat to democracy.