The US Senate’s acquittal of former US president Donald Trump on charges of inciting a violent insurrection was an inevitable but demoralising blow to the ideals of democracy, justice and accountability.

While the acquittal was expected, it will stand for generations as an appalling instance of Republican Party cowardice. It demonstrates how intrinsically bound the party’s fortunes remain to Mr Trump and his followers.

While it is hoped that Mr Trump’s hold over the Republican Party dissipates now that he is out of office, that is not certain. For four tumultuous years as president, Mr Trump wreaked chaos and, ultimately, treachery on the American people by claiming the November election was “stolen” from him. Incapable of conceding loss, Mr Trump indulged in deceit and challenged - unsuccessfully in the end - the ideals of American democracy itself.

He claimed the election was rigged and repeatedly called on his followers to “fight” the “evil” legislators who would sanction the legitimate win of Democrat candidate Joe Biden.
And on January 6, when Congress met to tally the electoral college votes in Mr Biden’s favour, Mr Trump urged his disciples to march to that bastion of democracy, the Capitol in Washington DC, and “fight like hell”.

They did, with fatal consequences. Legislators and congressional staff had to flee for their lives as rioters smashed their way into the Capitol, ransacking the Senate chamber and members’ offices. Police and protesters alike were killed and injured.