Al Gore: ‘If I were still in the Senate, I would vote to convict’ Trump

Former Vice President Al Gore said on Wednesday that if he were in the Senate, he “would vote to convict” former President Trump, who was impeached for a second time following the deadly rioting at the U.S. Capitol.

Gore told NBC News during its inauguration coverage that he supported the conviction of Trump in the Senate after the House impeached him on allegations that he incited the mob of his supporters that breached the Capitol earlier this month. 

The Senate trial is slated to start after President Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday.

“If I were still in the Senate, I would vote to convict because I think accountability for this grave crime against the American republic must be followed by accountability for those who instigated, organized, provoked and started it,” Gore said. 

The former vice president pointed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) comments on Tuesday that Trump “provoked” the rioters who stormed the Capitol, saying the crowd was “fed lies.” 

“One of the reasons why many of the supporters still doubt the outcome of the freest and fairest election in our history is that they were fed lies as well,” Gore told NBC News. “My faith tradition teaches me you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. The truth will eventually carry the day.”

“So we will see if enough Republican senators take the same approach that Mitch McConnell has signaled, to listen to the evidence and make a considered judgment,” he added. “I think that we’ll see what the outcome is, but I would not bet against conviction.”

The riots resulted in five deaths and more than 100 arrests. 

Trump had called on his supporters to gather to D.C. on the day of the Electoral College certification, and in a speech to protesters that day told them to march to the Capitol, “show strength” and “fight like hell” or “you’re not going to have a country anymore.”

The mob had attempted to prevent Congress from certifying Biden’s election win, but the lawmakers reconvened once the Capitol was secured and confirmed the Electoral College vote.