Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell has
held Donald Trump “morally responsible” for the January 6 Capitol
riots which he described as “disgraceful”, even after siding with the Republican majority to vote against the conviction of former president in his second impeachment trial.

“They did this because they had been fed
wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on Earth. Because he was angry. He had
lost an election. Former President Trump’s actions preceded the riot were a
disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty,” McConnell was quoted as
saying by CNN.

“There’s no question, none, that
President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events
of the day. No question about it. The people who stormed this building believed
they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their President,” he
added.

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McConnell clarified that there were “wild
myths” about election fraud, and at that time, he defended Trump’s right
to bring any complaints to the legal system.

“As I stood up and said clearly at that
time, the election was settled. It was over,” he said.

“The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe him and do reckless things.”

McConnell also termed the defense team of the former president invoking Trump’s voters during the impeachment trial “as a human shield against criticism.”

However, even after the scathing attacks on Trump, McConnell decided to vote against his conviction. Clarifying his stance, the Minority leader said, “After intense reflection, I believe the best constitutional reading shows that Article II Section 4 exhausts the set of persons who can legitimately be impeached, tried or convicted. It’s the president, it’s the vice president and civil officers. We have no power to convict and disqualify a former officeholder who is now a private citizen.”

“Donald Trump’s no longer the president. Likewise, the provision states that officers subject to impeachment and conviction shall be removed from office if convicted,” he said, emphasizing “from office.”

However, McConnell did not count out the possibility of Trump being tried in civil or criminal courts.

ALSO READ | Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski among Republicans who voted for the conviction of Trump

“President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office as an ordinary citizen unless the statute of limitations is run, still liable for everything he did while in office. Didn’t get away with anything yet. Yet. We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one,” he added. 

McConnell opined the Senate’s decision to acquit Trump does not condone the violence on January 6 but “it simply shows that senators did what the former President failed to do. We put our constitutional duty first.”