Friends,

Senate Republicans just voted to acquit Donald Trump, even though a bipartisan majority of the Senate voted to convict him. The impeachment trial is over.

While this is obviously not the result I voted for or hoped for, I’m glad that the House managers presented such a clear and compelling case proving Donald Trump’s guilt. It’s too bad some of my Republican colleagues were too busy reading or doodling to listen to their arguments, but the American people were listening and Donald Trump’s actions cannot be swept under the rug of history now.

Realistically, Republican Senators like Lindsey Graham, Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz were never going to vote to convict Trump no matter what evidence was put before them. Their minds were made up in advance because they’ve essentially sworn an oath of complete loyalty to Trump — an oath that apparently takes precedence over their oath to defend the Constitution. Some of them were even seen strategizing with Trump’s defense team this week while claiming to serve as impartial jurors.

Though I am not surprised by their continued allegiance to Trump instead of our nation, I am somehow still disappointed by it. But I will not let that disappointment stop me from doing my job. I will continue to work hard every day to get stuff done for working families. I will be an advocate for our troops, Veterans and military families in Washington.

I will also continue speaking out against the kind of racist, fascist and outright anti-American lies Trump and his cronies have used to divide us for too long. Because we can’t just put these past four years behind us and pretend they didn’t happen. Yes, Joe Biden is President now — but we have a lot of work to do to reclaim our leadership role in the global community and a lot of important conversations to be had here at home.

That work starts now.

Stay safe,

Tammy Duckworth