House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) tweeted a video of himself tearing in half the articles of impeachment shortly after President Trump was acquitted of both charges Wednesday afternoon.
“Acquitted for life,” McCarthy said in the tweet.
McCarthy’s tweet comes the day after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was seen ripping up a copy of the president’s speech at the conclusion of his State of the Union address Tuesday night. Republicans pounced on Pelosi’s actions, with Vice President Pence calling it “a new low” in an era of partisan politics. McCarthy, in a tweet late Tuesday night, called the Pelosi’s behavior “petty.”
Pelosi told reporters that her actions were “the courteous thing to do, considering the alternatives.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) re-election campaign also went after Pelosi, tweeting out a gif that depicts Pelosi ripping up Trump’s speech and then switches to McConnell slightly smiling.
Drew Hammill, Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, countered McCarthy’s tweet, retweeting the video with the caption: “Never had an original idea in his whole life…”
On the impeachment article of abuse of power the president was acquitted by a tally of 52-48, with Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah) the only GOP senator to vote for Trump’s conviction. On obstruction of Congress, the second article, Trump was acquitted 53-47, strictly along party lines.