A lawyer for Donald Trump is arguing that the former president’s impeachment trial should be dismissed, both because it is unconstitutional and because it will “tear this country apart.”
In opening remarks Tuesday, lawyer Bruce Castor said: “The American people are smart enough to pick a new administration if they don’t like the old one. And they just did.”Trump has repeatedly disputed the results of the election, falsely claiming he won in a “landside.” He kept up the baseless claim during a speech before the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, which set in motion his trial on a charge of incitement of insurrection.
Separated from them in the House chamber, Raskin described people around him calling to say goodbye to their families, members removing their congressional pins to try to evade detection. And he said he heard the rioters “pounding on the door like a battering ram” — a sound he said he would “never forget.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the lead House impeachment manager presenting the case against Trump, introduced the more than 10-minute-long video timeline of the day. It began with Trump’s speech at a Jan. 6 rally by the White House in which he tells the crowd, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol,” and it included the crowd marching to the building. That video was juxtaposed with what was happening inside the building as lawmakers were preparing to certify Joe Biden’s victory.
Biden, and Psaki on his behalf, have for weeks steadfastly refused to address much of the trial, saying they believed the process had to be done but have avoided weighing in on the particulars. Each side has two hours to make its case on Tuesday, after which the Senate is expected to vote and reject the GOP efforts to dismiss the trial.
Trump’s team says he was protected by freedom of speech when he told his supporters to “fight like hell” to overturn his election defeat. It says Trump was using “fight” as a general term, not a direction to be violent.
You can burn murder loot that’s OK Protest to the United States government that’s not OK
If they acquit, party splits. Trump KoolAid is poison ☠️ leading to “President for Life” fascism.
sound_the_7th Please publicise that in his latest op ed Ted Cruz says the trial is constitutional, but that when asked, in the Senate 'Is Former President Donald John Trump Subject to a Court of Impeachment for Acts Committed While President?' he said no. Has he not lied to the Senate?
Nothing new SenateImpeachmentTrial. Won't change GOP votes. Must confront them, 'You know the truth, your constituents don’t. You feed & exploit them b/c u need their votes, Trump support. Must tell them the truth to save self-respect, power of the vote and erode Trump's cult
Those 44 hate this country. They can’t claim to be leaders, patriots or senators if the can’t see wrong and what is best for the country. Such cowards.
Because the Senate totally decides what is constitutional ... not the surpreme court.
🤣🤣🤣🤦🏻♀️
Are they bringing up Trump's pressuring governors Pence and Secretaries of State to overturn votes? That is illegal. What the hell happened with that story?
44 of the 117th - Sleep well tonight NeverForgetJan6
In what world does Congress have final say on constitutionality?
Éso no lo hace constitucional. No pelen el ajo antes de desgranarlo.
For the second time in a year the Senate has demonstrated unmistakably that it is no longer the world’s greatest deliberative body - in fact it is no more than a sham. What a disgusting embarrassment. The 44 nay voters might just as well have joined those terrorists at the doors.
44 Republican Senators condone treason. TRE45ON TrumpTreason RepublicanParty
Prayers 4 this man of decency
I don’t want to go back to the Capitol either....
Isn’t it the supreme courts job to rule on whether or not things are constitutional?
Sure they can proceed. Then they can take the ONLY allowed punishment, kick him out of office... oh wait! We already did that.
6 Republicans GOP voted with 50 Democrats to impeach former President Trump: • Sen. Cassidy SenBillCassidy • Sen. Collins SenSusanCollins • Sen. Murkowski lisamurkowski • Sen. Romney MittRomney • Sen. Sasse SenSasse • Sen. Toomey SenToomey
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The GOP are desperately trying to cling onto an alternate reality. This is an open and shut case.
The most compelling argument that was made that this idea was unanimously upheld during a time when the framers of the Constitution was still in office. That tells you 100 that the framers thought this was constitutional.
There you have it. It’s over. Trump gets to have his insurrection cake and eat it too.
Narrator: “But the Senate does not decide what is and is not constitutional.”
Six Republicans joined all 50 Senate Democrats in voting to proceed with former President Trump's impeachment trial. That's one more than in a similar vote two weeks ago, with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy changing sides.
What shall we name a President's last week in office: 'Purge Week,' 'Blood Week,' 'Murder all you want until Wednesday, week?' Just so many choices. I wonder Who Biden will take out in his last week if Trump gets acquitted?
Mr Ruskin also gave a powerful and moving presentation.
This is actually going to bode well for the Democrats, Trump is going to divide and destroy the Republican Party.
Guess why the ancient roman senate is the model for modern day senates? Because roman senators were corrupt. Senate and (in your face) corruption go together: a fix and small number of senators by region (rich or poor, big or small) is the perfect recipe for corrupting democracy.
The GOP is not the party of law and order. They are the party of fascism and violent insurrection.ImpeachmentTrial
That's not even their lane. Let SCOTUS decide the constitutionality. DO the trial.
Maybe it’s just me but I think every American knows Trump is guilty. Right now it’s the senate GOP on trial and on day one they already fumbled. They don’t care about the facts and they don’t care about the law that is the message they sent out today with that pathetic vote.
A pot of 💩
The fractured GOP continues to fail America and seems totally unaware of its fate, regardless of impeachment
So he was acquitted
People are responsible for there own actions! Government should be only focusing on what’s good for the people that pays them!
GOP: 'Trump supporters won't send me money if I vote against their cult leader!'
Saying Trump was rejected by Americans in a fair election was a brutal take down...BY HIS LAWYER. ImpeachmentTrial2
Thank you SenBillCassidy for listening and taking the appropriate action. Now, please consider honestly conviction. I pray that your colleagues do the same. SenJohnKennedy SenateGOP
Yeah a Nation of laws but who’s law?
More Republican senators need to grow fortitude against mob mentality.
This is a monstrous waste of time and money. He's going to be acquitted.
Just because senators vote that impeachment is constitutional does not make it so as the law in the constitution clearly shows that this act is unconstitutional since Donald Trump is not the president he is a normal US citizen and can not be impeached.
The only Bipartisan issue this term is wasting everyone's time. The bigger question is: will it manage to get through and go all the way to SCOTUS?
It's sad that this was even a question. Every GOP Senator who voted 'no' will carry that anti-democratic, fascist-friendly label with them forever. ImpeachmentTrial
It’s TIME TO UPDATE THE CONSTITUTION, the MEDIA needs to push on it. Let’s remove the LOOPHOLES in the constitution. TRUMP said it many times how he took advantage based on those LOOPHOLES. What about the presidential pardons he did. Want more? If not another looney will come
Democracy is a false god and a fool's errand. Exhibit 1.
same split as Americans in favor of conviction vs not
Honestly, the GOP members that said no, are traitors and cowards.
The Republicans with dignity
If Mitch had not sent all of the Senators home the night of the insurrection, and told them to return the day before inauguration - they could have impeached Trump while he was still President. And removed him. After the House had already impeached him. There, fixed it for you.
Weird, since when in our Government has it been up to legislators to decide constitutionality?
PEACEFULLY
Incoming offended republicans.....