The trial began with the lead House impeachment manager Rep Jamie Raskin playing a 13-minute video showing scenes of chaos and protesters violently pushing past security barricades during the US Capitol attack.
Former US President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial began on Tuesday after the Senators voted 56 to 44 in favor of the constitutionality of the trial. Trump has been accused of inciting insurrections when his supporters stormed the US Capitol attack on January 6.
Trump’s defense team argued that he cannot be impeached and that it is unconstitutional to try an official who is no longer in office. The defense team consistently argued with the House impeachment managers and four hours later the Senate voted 56-44 confirming that the proceedings were constitutional. Six Republicans joined all 50 Democrats in the evenly divided Senate to continue the trials. The six Republicans are Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
The trial began with the lead House impeachment manager Rep Jamie Raskin playing a 13-minute video showing scenes of chaos and mobs of protesters violently pushing past security barricades during the US Capitol attack. Footage of Trump’s speech on the day before the attack was also included. Raskin said: “If that’s not an impeachable offense, then there’s no such thing.” “This cannot be the future of America,” said Ruskin tearfully.
Trump’s defense team stated that the impeachment was a politically motivated move to remove him as a competitor. Trump’s attorney Bruce Castor said: “We are really here because the majority of the House of Representatives do not want to face Donald Trump as a political rival.”
Opening arguments will begin on Wednesday noon. Both the Democrats and the Republicans have 50 members each. Democrats need 17 Republicans to vote with them to have a two-thirds majority required to convict Trump.
Trump is the first US President to face two impeachment trials. Previously, in 2019, Democrats moved to impeach Trump for pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to dig up political dirt on Biden. Trump wasn’t convicted as then the Republicans had a majority.
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Also Read: CAPITOL CHAOS: Trump mob storms Congress
