He was discovered and brought to trial before the Senate, but acquitted by means of open bribery.

Cicero had been instrumental in bringing him to trial, and Clodius never forgot it.

He got adopted into a plebeian family in order to be a candidate for the tribuneship, and was successful.

He then proposed to the Assembly that any person who had put to death a Roman citizen without allowing him to appeal to the people be considered a violator of the constitution.

The proposal was carried.
All knew that Cicero was meant, and he fled at once to Macedonia.