(TJVNEWS) Notes from the opening of Trump’s second impeachment trial
By a vote of 56-44, the senate declared the impeachment trial was constitutional, 6 Republicans joined with the Democrats
Trump attorney David Schoen spoke about jurisdiction, Schoen says the trial will tear the country apart because people will see it as a group of partisans trying to eliminate Trump, an “ill-advised” impeachment process that was flawed.
Schoen argues only presidents can be impeached/convicted because only current presidents can be removed from office.
Schoen says the Senate does not have jurisdiction because Trump is “no longer president.” He tries to make the case that Pelosi deprived Trump of his due process rights (having Chief Justice Roberts presiding).
Schoen also played a video of Democrats calling for impeaching Trump dating back to the beginning of his presidency, highlighting the incendiary language of many Democrat members of senate and congress
Trump defense attorney David Schoen plays a compilation video of Democrats calling for President Trump’s impeachment since the day he took office pic.twitter.com/39qH2Vbbne
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 9, 2021
“The impeachment article should be treated as a nullity and dismissed based on the total lack of due process in the House.” – David Schoen pic.twitter.com/JyJQ3tLMgh
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) February 9, 2021
Bruce Castor spoke first on behalf of Trump and received lots of criticism from conservatives on social media saying his performance was rambling and unfocused
“We are really here because the majority in the House of Representatives does not want to face Donald Trump as a political rival in the future,” Trump impeachment lawyer Bruce Castor argues. https://t.co/tpW7rrCNnD #impeachmenttrial pic.twitter.com/JrO8Uz3Zoj
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 9, 2021
Democrat rep Rep. Cicilline (D-RI) says impeachment exists to protect our constitutional system and safeguard our democracy. He says things could have been much worse on January 6 as the rioters/mob “could have killed” all of them. He says Trump was impeached while in office for conduct while in office. House Managers intent on proving Trump was solely responsible for the insurrection. He made a dramatic and Holywoodesque presentation
House impeachment manager Rep. David Cicilline: “This was a disaster of historic proportion…and make no mistake about it, as you think about that day, things could have been much worse. As one senator said, they could have killed all of us.” https://t.co/tpW7rrCNnD pic.twitter.com/hewwf0uciC
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 9, 2021
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the lead House manager, spoke first. Raskin says their case is “all about the facts” and he won’t be lecturing on the Federalist Papers. He accuses Trump’s lawyers of wanting to prevent facts from being heard. He says their argument is that if you commit an impeachable offense in the last weeks of office, you do it with constitutional impunity. He says this “January exception” is the Founders’ worst nightmare and will give a president a free shot to do anything on his way out the door, including using violent means to lock it.
Rep. Jamie Raskin: “A January exception. And everyone can see immediately why this is so dangerous. It’s an invitation to the president to take his best shot at anything he may want to do on his way out the door, including using violent means to lock that door.” pic.twitter.com/5nhogjdJ8p
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) February 9, 2021
Raskin warns about how Jan. 6 could be the future and plays a clip of Trump telling his supporters that he would walk down to the Capitol with them. He plays a video of rioters calling cops “pigs” and storming the Capitol building. After video of rioters storming the Capitol, Raskin says if that is not an impeachable offense, nothing is. He says Trump started a “violent insurrection” and he wants the Senate to decide that it is powerless. “That can’t be right,” he says
