WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democrats making the case for Donald Trump’s conviction in his Senate impeachment trial on a charge of inciting the deadly U.S. Capitol attack said on Thursday the former president knew exactly what he was doing when he summoned supporters to Washington on Jan. 6.
On the trial’s third day, House of Representatives lawmakers serving as prosecutors provided example after example of Trump’s actions prior to the rampage to illustrate his intentions when he told supporters to go to the Capitol and “fight like hell” as Congress convened to formally certify President Joe Biden’s election Nov. 3 victory over him.
“Jan. 6 was not some unexpected radical break from his normal law-abiding and peaceful disposition … This was his essential M.O.,” said lead Democratic impeachment manager Jamie Raskin said, using shorthand for modus operandi.
“He knew that egged on by his tweets, his lies and his promise of a ‘wild’ time in Washington to guarantee his grip on power, his most extreme followers would show up bright and early, ready to attack, ready to engage in violence, ready to ‘fight like hell’ for their hero,” Raskin added.
Democratic congresswoman Diana DeGette told the Senate that when they were criminally charged, multiple rioters said they believed they were following Trump’s orders on Jan. 6.
“The president told them to be there, so they actually believed they would face no punishment,” DeGette said, showing a video of one rioter telling another as they entered a congressional office: “He’ll be happy – what do you mean, we’re fighting for Trump.”
The Democratic-led House on Jan. 13 charged the Republican former president with inciting an insurrection. Trump’s term ended on Jan. 20.
Democrats appear to be highly unlikely to secure a conviction and bar Trump from ever again holding public office given that only six Republicans voted with Democrats in the 100-seat chamber to proceed with the impeachment trial. A two-thirds majority would be needed to vote to convict, which means at least 17 Republican senators would have to defy Trump, who has shown interest in running for president again in 2024.
Raskin told the senators that Trump must not be allowed to hold public office again: “If he gets back into office and it happens again, we’ll have no one to blame but ourselves.”
On the trial’s third day, House of Representatives lawmakers serving as prosecutors provided example after example of Trump’s actions prior to the rampage to illustrate his intentions when he told supporters to go to the Capitol and “fight like hell” as Congress convened to formally certify President Joe Biden’s election Nov. 3 victory over him.
“Jan. 6 was not some unexpected radical break from his normal law-abiding and peaceful disposition … This was his essential M.O.,” said lead Democratic impeachment manager Jamie Raskin said, using shorthand for modus operandi.
“He knew that egged on by his tweets, his lies and his promise of a ‘wild’ time in Washington to guarantee his grip on power, his most extreme followers would show up bright and early, ready to attack, ready to engage in violence, ready to ‘fight like hell’ for their hero,” Raskin added.
Democratic congresswoman Diana DeGette told the Senate that when they were criminally charged, multiple rioters said they believed they were following Trump’s orders on Jan. 6.
“The president told them to be there, so they actually believed they would face no punishment,” DeGette said, showing a video of one rioter telling another as they entered a congressional office: “He’ll be happy – what do you mean, we’re fighting for Trump.”
The Democratic-led House on Jan. 13 charged the Republican former president with inciting an insurrection. Trump’s term ended on Jan. 20.
Democrats appear to be highly unlikely to secure a conviction and bar Trump from ever again holding public office given that only six Republicans voted with Democrats in the 100-seat chamber to proceed with the impeachment trial. A two-thirds majority would be needed to vote to convict, which means at least 17 Republican senators would have to defy Trump, who has shown interest in running for president again in 2024.
Raskin told the senators that Trump must not be allowed to hold public office again: “If he gets back into office and it happens again, we’ll have no one to blame but ourselves.”
