World News: Spoiler alert, Trump was acquitted of all charges

POLITICS 2020

Wednesday, February 5

President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 4, 2020.

OnPolitics: Spoiler alert, Trump was acquitted of all charges

President Donald Trump was acquitted of both impeachment charges by the Senate on Wednesday, ending months of debate and investigations.

It may be the shortest presidential impeachment trial in the history of the U.S., but it feels like forever since we began covering every vote, quote, tweet and trial.

Today, President Donald Trump was acquitted of both impeachment charges, avoiding removal from office and ending the impeachment trial we've been following closely as it moved from the House to the Senate.

Here's what you need to know about the vote, last night's State of the Union and the ongoing Iowa caucus saga:

The impeachment vote (finally) happened

The Senate acquitted Trump for his dealings with Ukraine on Wednesday, culminating months of bitter partisan clashes over accusations he tried to cheat in the 2020 election by pressuring the U.S. ally to investigate political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. The Republican-led Senate voted to acquit Trump on two articles of impeachment - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, was the only senator to cross party lines by voting to convict for abuse of power. Conviction was always unlikely in the GOP-led Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority because it required the support of at least two-thirds of the Senate or 67 senators.

On voting to convict President Trump on the abuse of power charge, Romney said: "This verdict is ours to render ... The grave question the Constitution tasks senators to answer is whether the President committed an act so extreme and egregious that it rises to the level of a 'high crime and misdemeanor.' Yes, he did."

Dig deeper:

•	What we learned (and still don't know) after the Trump impeachment saga
•	After impeachment: Storm of investigations, lawsuits awaits President Trump amid reelection bid
•	Interactive: How each member of the Senate voted in Trump's impeachment trial
•	Tougher than Teflon? Trump shows he is the most resilient politician in modern US history

More than 200 "Reject the Cover-Up" protests are planned around the nation in response to President Donald Trump's expected impeachment acquittal. Most were expected to begin at 5:30 p.m. EST in opposition to the Senate trial.

It was the SOTU of all SOTUs

Reaction continued well into today on last night's State of the Union address. Republicans responded angrily after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up her copy of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night.

•	Vice President Mike Pence called Pelosi's rending of the speech "a new low" and said it was an effort to make the address "about her." (If you missed it, read and watch it here again.)
•	On the impromptu Medal of Honor award, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez blasted giving the Medal of Freedom to 'virulent racist' Rush Limbaugh, calling it 'truly nauseating'
•	File this one under commentary: Bill Goodykoontz writes, Trump turned the State of the Union speech into a reality show. Rush Limbaugh was its star.
•	Stepping back from reaction: Build the wall? Travel ban? Tax cuts? After Trump's State of the Union, here's where he stands on promises

And, catching up on Iowa

Jeff Lopez holds his son, Tristan, 4, as they and Jeff's wife, Jessika, sit in an area for Bernie Sanders supporters during the Woodbury County Third Precinct Democratic caucus, Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, at West High School in Sioux City, Iowa. Iowans across the state attended Democratic and Republican caucuses Monday.

Tim Hynds, AP

We now have 84.99% of precincts reporting (as of 4:30 pm ET), and we're still largely in the same place. So read that as we're still waiting on an Iowa winner.

•	A PSA, reminder to watch this space to get the latest on Iowa results. We'll update that page with the latest when they come out.
•	Reality check: Despite Iowa caucus disaster, U.S. election systems are better than you think. Really.