Former US President Donald Trump was acquitted by the country’s Senate on Saturday in an impeachment trial for his role in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Trump was the first US president to be impeached twice and is now the first president to be twice acquitted. If convicted, he could have been barred from holding office in the future, but this decision now paves the way – should Trump want to run again – for a possible second term at the White House in 2024.

The final vote tally was 57-43. Seven Republicans voted to convict: Richard Burr of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana joining five others who were expected to turn against Trump namely Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

The trial began Feb. 9, with Trump facing a single impeachment article for incitement of insurrection regarding his role in the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol, which left five people dead including a Capitol Police officer. In a speech that day in front of the White House, Trump urged supporters to march to the Capitol.