President Donald Trump has been acquitted in his impeachment trial, ending the congressional bid to oust him from office. The Senate, run by the president’s fellow Republicans, voted to acquit him 52-48 on charges of abuse of power and 53-47 on obstruction of Congress.

Democrats charged Mr Trump in December with pressuring Ukraine to smear a potential White House rival. In November, Mr Trump will be the first impeached president to go for election.

Trump’s re-election campaign said in a statement: “President Trump has been totally vindicated and it’s now time to get back to the business of the American people. The do-nothing Democrats know they can’t beat him, so they had to impeach him.” It said “this terrible ordeal” and “nonsense” was merely a Democratic campaign tactic.”
One Senator, Mitt Romney crossed the floor in an effort to try and remove Mr. Trump but he prevailed in the end.