WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTXL) — Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) were a part of the 43 senators Saturday that voted to acquit Former President Trump on an article of impeachment that he incited the deadly US Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6.
Shortly after the vote, both senators released statements outlining their reasons for voting to acquit the former President.
In a lengthy statement, Sen. Rubio said that he did not want to create "dangerous precedents," by acquitting former President Donald Trump.
"Impeachment is not a way of sending a message or taking symbolic action," said Sen. Rubio. "Impeachment exists for one principal reason: to remove from office an officeholder guilty of wrongdoing."
He then argues that the Senate has no power to remove a former government official, which the Associated Press disproved in a recent fact-checking article.
"The Senate does not have the Constitutional power to convict a former official," said Sen. Rubio "And even if we did we should be very reluctant to use it."
It should be noted that the Constitution lists a consequence of impeachment other than just removal from office: “Disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States.”
Sen. Rubio's full statement can be found by clicking here.
Sen. Scott went with a shorter statement where he called the trial "unconstitutional" and called it "a waste of everyone's time and tax dollars."
"Instead of addressing the serious issues facing our nation, Democrats in Congress put our work for the American people on hold and pushed forward with an unconstitutional impeachment trial," said Sen. Scott.
It’s time to get back to work for the American people. pic.twitter.com/z5y6dkjml5
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 13, 2021
Both senators condemned the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, and both said that they want to focus more attention on the challenges ahead.
