WASHINGTON D.C. (WBAP/KLIF News) – Former President Donald Trump’s defense team have begun to make their arguments Friday in the Senate’s second impeachment trial.
The House impeached Trump last month on an article of “incitement of insurrection” stemming from the deadly riot following a “Stop the Steal” rally at the U.S. Capitol January Sixth.
Five people died including a U.S. Capitol police officer.
Trump’s team will have their allotted sixteen hours of arguments. They’re expected to acknowledge the violence at the capital was both traumatic and illegal but stress that their client had nothing to do with the actions of the rioters.
David Schoen, one of Trump’s attorneys, argued his clients statement to “fight like hell” at the Stop the Steal rally ahead of the riot were not a direct order.
“It’s clear he’s talking about legislators fighting for our rights. People fighting to advocate and everyone likes to overlook the word peacefully in there,” he said.
Analysts have said the team plans to drive home their core argument, that the impeachment process is unconstitutional because Trump is no longer in office.
On Thursday, House Democrats wrapped their arguments honing in on Trump’s claims of fraud post elections, using video of his statements and tweets, leading up to the riot.
Lead House Impeachment Manager Jamie Raskin urged the senate to consider common sense and the lasting impact of their decision could have on the country.
“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.”
Trump’s attorneys said they’re not planning to use their full allotted time to make their case.
After presentations, senators will have four hours to question both sides.
Each side will then get four hours for closing arguments and requests can be made by senators before making the final vote.
67 senators will need to find Trump guilty in order to convict him, which would then bar him from holding office again.
Most analysts have said a conviction is unlikely.
He’s the first president in U.S. history to have been impeached twice.
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