Impeachment managers wrap case with new warning on Trump
The House Democrats making the case for former President Trump's impeachment wrapped up their arguments Thursday with a warning that acquittal could embolden Trump to incite violence again down the line.
The final remarks from Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the lead impeachment manager, concluded late Thursday afternoon and capped two days of presentations that included disturbing new security footage from inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, charging documents against insurrectionists who cited Trump as the inspiration for their crimes, and videos of the mob attacking police officers trying to defend the very same chamber where senators are serving as jurists in Trump's second impeachment trial.
It's not yet clear if the impeachment managers will call witnesses in the trial. Trump's lawyers are scheduled to make their presentation on Friday afternoon and conclude the same day. If no witnesses are called and senators continue with their plans to keep the trial short, the proceedings could conclude as soon as Saturday.
"If a president did invite a violent insurrection against our government, as of course we allege and think we've proven in this case, but just in general, if a president incited a violent insurrection against our government, would that be a high crime and misdemeanor? Can we all agree at least on that?" Raskin said.
During their arguments on Thursday, Democrats warned that acquitting Trump would allow him to potentially run for office and incite additional violence. A conviction would lead to Trump being disqualified from ever holding office again.
“Senators, the evidence is clear. We showed you statements, videos, affidavits that prove President Trump incited an insurrection — an insurrection that he alone had the power to stop. And the fact that he didn’t stop it, the fact that he incited a lawless attack and abdicated his duty to defend us from it, the fact that he actually further inflamed the mob, further inflamed that mob, attacking his vice president while assassins were pursuing him in this Capitol more than requires conviction and disqualification,” said Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), one of the impeachment managers.
“We humbly, humbly ask you to convict President Trump for the crime for which he is overwhelmingly guilty of.Because if you don’t, if we pretend this didn’t happen, or worse, if we let it go unanswered, who’s to say it won’t happen again?” Neguse said.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538521-impeachment-managers-wrap-case-with-new-warning-on-trump