At least 100 protest in Phoenix against Trump impeachment acquittal

More than 200 "Reject the Cover-Up" protests are planned around the nation Wednesday in response to President Donald Trump's impeachment acquittal, including one in Phoenix.

At least 100 people rallied outside Republican U.S. Sen. Martha McSally's office at Camelback Road and 22nd Street in Phoenix shortly after the protest started at 5:30 p.m. They chanted "McShame" and "Hey hey ho ho McSally has got to go" as people driving by honked at the crowd. 

McSally voted with most Republicans on Wednesday to acquit Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, cementing her alliance with the president ahead of her 2020 contest where she will ask voters to return her to Washington. 

Senators voted largely along party lines against the abuse of power charge 52-48, and on the obstruction of Congress charge, 53-47. 

Upset over acquittal

Judy Robbins, who led the protesters in a chant, said the acquittal was "disgusting and despicable."

"It’s what we expected and only one person, Romney, had a spine to stand up," she said. "The GOP senators all were complicit in believing that this guy should be acquitted."

Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney voted to convict Trump on the first article of impeachment, becoming the first senator ever to vote against his own party's president in an impeachment trial. 

Protester Fran Janecky focused on what she saw as an upside.

"I don’t think it really changes a whole lot. I believe no matter what is said or done, he will have been impeached. That will stand on his record forever," she said.

Protesters focus on unseating McSally

Multiple protesters told The Arizona Republic that they thought McSally's vote wouldn't bode well for her.

"I think she’s on an uphill battle because she was not elected, she was appointed, and I don’t think she represents Sen. McCain from a constituency standpoint. He would have been opposed to all of this. From that standpoint, I think she has an uphill battle to get reelected — I mean elected," Kara Pelletier said. 

Gov. Doug Ducey appointed McSally in December 2018 to fill the Senate seat long held by the late U.S. Sen. John McCain.

"All I know is that I’m gonna be working really hard to get rid of her and get Mark Kelly in," said Robbins.

McSally said Tuesday that her race this year will determine whether Republicans keep the Senate, a refrain she has used since 2018. The winner of the Aug. 4 primary election is expected to face Democrat Mark Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut, in the November general election.

Wednesday's protest was part of a network of protests across the county. 

"(W)e're mobilizing tens of thousands of protesters at over 270 rallies across the country to make it clear that voters are watching, and that we'll remember the lawmakers who chose cowardice over patriotism," said Sean Eldridge, a former congressional candidate and the founder and president of Stand Up America, a liberal activist group that is helping to organize the protests.

The is a developing story. Check azcentral.com for updates. 

Reach Kaila White at Kaila.White@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @kailawhite.