It is not clear that Manchin actually wanted to convict Trump though. Unless they had 67 votes to convict, a YES vote does nothing.
“It is not clear that Manchin actually wanted to convict Trump though. Unless they had 67 votes to convict, a YES vote does nothing.”
His YES vote meant a lot. The Dims knew the vote would fail. They pressured Manchin to maintain the Dim voting block, preventing Trump from claiming a bipartisan acquittal. The Romney defection was just a bonus for the Dims.
Manchin admitted that it was a political prosecution, but went along with it anyway. He pretends to be an independent thinker, but he is blue at his core.