By Kara Thompson
Students at the University of Maryland had strong reactions to the second acquittal of former President Donald Trump, with some students arguing that the lack of conviction sets a dangerous precedent.
On Feb. 13, the Senate voted 57-43 to acquit Trump on charges of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol in the most bipartisan impeachment decision ever. It was also the nation’s first impeachment trial of a former president, as Trump had already left office.
Brianna Giang, a freshman computer science major, said the trial was interesting to watch, “especially knowing that our country only had three impeachment trials that happened in history.”
Trump’s recent trial is just the country’s fourth presidential impeachment attempt ever. Across the country and on campus, there were mixed reactions to the trial and eventual acquittal.
Sophomore Rachel Pepper was troubled by the outcome of the trial.
“It seemed like the House managers laid out a very strong case for the constitutionality of the trial, and I was surprised at how much precedent there was for impeaching former officials,” said Pepper, an English and Russian double major. “It’s concerning to me that the outcome seems to permit what the managers called a ‘January exception,’ in which lame duck presidents could commit impeachable offenses and escape punishment because of the approaching end of their terms.”
Hana Chitsaz, a freshman computer science major, was also upset about Trump’s acquittal.
“Honestly I’m not surprised, but I am disappointed that in today’s world, people still allow those responsible for hurting others and spreading hatred to continuously get away with it,” Chitsaz said.
Although the trial had seven Republican votes to convict, the acquittal came as no shock. Most GOP senators voiced their opposition to it in the days leading up to and during the trial.
Because the trial ended without a conviction, there has been talk about a potential Trump campaign in 2024. Freshman Kyle Libonate does not think that will happen.
“It just seems like he doesn’t really need the office anymore,” Libonate said. “I feel like he’ll toy around with it but not end up running.”
Featured image: Brianna Giang started watching the impeachment trial for a class but ended up viewing four hours of it. Photo courtesy of Brianna Giang.