Newsman: The House Democratic managers’ presentations and arguments in the Senate impeachment trial were largely praised by the republicans, but still no signs from republican to change their mind to come forward to vote against Donald Trump. House impeachment managers concluded their case against Donald Trump on Thursday, urged the Senate to convict the former President for inciting the insurrectionists that attacked the US Capitol arguing Trump was responsible for the deadly January 6 riot, failed to stop the attackers and showed no remorse afterward. Democrats argued that Trump’s response to the riots shows he would “undoubtedly cause future harm if allowed.” However, it seems to be a shorter trial as democrats concluded their argument without presenting any witnesses. Trump’s lawyers will present their defense against democrat’s arguments today the Friday, in the Senate. They’re expected to finish their presentation in a single day, according to CNN referring related sources. In that case the senate will vote on conviction Saturday or Sunday assumingly. Democrats need two-thirds vote for conviction, which would require at least 17 Republicans joining democrats to vote that Trump is guilty.
Trump’s lawyers plan to argue that the trial is unconstitutional and that Trump’s speech is protected by the First Amendment.
In closing arguments on the democrats side The managers focused on Trump’s history of celebrating violence among his supporters leading up to the attack, and his claims that his conduct was “totally appropriate” as a warning he could try to do it again if given the chance. The managers used their final day of arguments in the Senate impeachment trial to show how the insurrectionists who carried out the attack on the Capitol last month said they did it at Trump’s direction.
The entire Senate was at attention while violent videos were played showing the chaos at the Capitol and disturbing new revelations about just how close the rioters were to reaching lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence when The Democrats’ presented their arguments Thursday.
Wrapping up the House’s case, lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin pleaded with senators to convict Trump, warning of the historical consequences if he is acquitted.
“If you don’t find this a high crime and misdemeanor today, you have set a new terrible standard for presidential misconduct in the United States of America,” Raskin said.
The Maryland Democrat and constitutional law scholar closed by citing Thomas Paine, who wrote the pamphlet “Common Sense” in 1776 advocating American independence.
“Let’s not get caught up in a lot of outlandish lawyers’ theories here,” Raskin said. “Exercise your common sense about what just took place in our country.”
However, Six Republicans voted with Democrats that the trial was constitutional on Tuesday, which many Republicans say is the likely ceiling for the number of GOP conviction votes. No Republican has said yet they will vote to convict Trump. In Trump’s first impeachment trial last year, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the only Republican to find him guilty.
But most Senate Republicans are still relying on the argument that the trial itself is unconstitutional because Trump is no longer president.
“I have to compliment the impeachment managers just in terms of their presentation preparation. I thought it was excellent,” said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a member of Senate GOP leadership. “I don’t agree with everything. But I think they set the standard pretty high” for Trump’s team.
But he still doesn’t sound open to conviction. “The biggest concern I have is about the idea of impeaching a former officeholder without explicit authorization in the Constitution and what that means to exact retribution on political opponents,” he said.
Democrats, Never-before-seen Capitol security camera footage aired on their first day of arguments forced senators to relive the harrowing attack and confront chilling new details about the incredibly serious threat posed to everyone in the Capitol, including lawmakers.
In their second day, the Democrats showed how Trump has long embraced violence, from his response to White supremacists marching in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 to the armed protesters who jammed into the Michigan state Capitol last year.
Lead manager Raskin said the Michigan protests in April 2020 were a “preview of the coming insurrection.”
“This Trump-inspired mob may indeed look familiar to you: Confederate battle flags, MAGA hats, weapons, camo Army gear, just like the insurrectionists who showed up and invaded this chamber,” the Maryland Democrat Raskin said.
