Donald Trump’s impeachment defense team are preparing to make their case later today. This comes following an emotional two-day trial where the Democrats concluded their arguments that Donald Trump encouraged an attack on the US Capitol last month.
The Democrat-led House of Representatives impeached the former president last month over accusations of violent incitements. They have argued that he is a threat to democracy. The Senate is currently holding a trial whereby if convicted, he will be barred from holding public office again.
Lawmakers have presented their case to Senators at trial this past week using video evidence of invaders. PA has reported they were simply obeying “the president’s orders” to defy the election results. David Schoen, Trump’s lawyer argued against the Democrats’ case, calling the presentation “offensive”.
The riot at the Capitol occurred on 6 January and saw five people lose their lives. The attack took place following Trump’s speech to his supporters, where he said “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”
Trump’s lawyers are arguing that he was exercising his right to freedom of speech when claiming the election results were fraudulent.
Democrats have finished their arguments, citing the harm Trump has caused to people, public property and the democracy of the United States. They have also named fears of his ability to incite further mob violence following the trial.
According to PA, prosecutor Joe Neguse said: “If we pretend this didn’t happen, or worse, if we let it go unanswered, who’s to say it wont happen again?”
The past two days have seen detailed accounts of Trump urging his supporters to act out against the election results, with arguments of a violent rhetoric dominant during his presidency.
Diana DeGette of Colorado said that supporters “truly believed that the whole intrusion was the president’s orders,” adding that “the president told them to be there”.
The riots saw masses of Trump supporters storm the Capitol building, getting dangerously close to the nation’s key politicians in efforts to upend social and political order.
Trump’s defence team are positive in their rebuttal and are “already saying they plan to wrap up by Friday evening.”
A majority of two-thirds is needed to convict the former president in the Senate, but there is little hope from the Democrats as the Republicans have proven their loyalty to Trump in the past.
With proceedings expected to end as early as Saturday, the trial could take less than a week from start to finish.
Trump is the first US President to be impeached twice. Last year he was acquitted over an abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after making a call to the Ukrainian President encouraging him to find dirt on political rival Joe Biden.