What happened on the first day of Trump’s impeachment trial?
The second day of the Donald Trump impeachment trial has begun as House impeachment managers offer new video evidence showing “just how close Trump’s mob came to senators, members of Congress and staff” on January 6, a source close to the Democrats has said.
The footage taken from security cameras inside the Capitol building has never been viewed before being presented the legal team of former president Trump scrambled to prepare video evidence of their own.
Day two comes as one of Trump’s impeachment lawyers has criticised the footage already played to senators on Tuesday, calling it a “hoax'” and “manufactured.”
Today’s hearing moved forward after six Republicans joined Democrats in a 56 to 44 vote that ruled Trump’s second trial is constitutional.
David Schoen, who was criticised for his lacklustre performance yesterday, told Sean Hannity on Fox News that House managers showed “spliced and manufactured films” and that the footage was a “hoax.”
Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell has reportedly told Republicans that the final vote on Donald Trump is a “matter of conscience” and that he has not yet made his mind up on how to vote, as reported by Bloomberg.
The trial continues, with each side having 16 hours to present their case.
Watch: Trump declared ‘inciter in chief’
Trump declared ‘inciter in chief’ at impeachment trial
Justin Vallejo10 February 2021 18:05
Mob searched to ‘kill’ Pence and ‘hang’ Pelosi, trial hears
Joe Neguse is presenting Department of Justice affidavits showing what some of the rioters said on video: “We were looking for Nancy to shoot her in the friggin’ brain but we didn’t find her,” one said.
Justin Vallejo10 February 2021 17:56
Trump’s Capitol speech ‘not rhetorical’, says impeachment prosecution
“It was not rhetorical, some of his supporters have been primed for this over many months,” says Joe Neguse.
He pointed to this portion of Trump’s speech: “We will not let them silence your voices, we’re not going to let it happen. Not going to let it happen.”
The crowd responded in the chant: “Fight for Trump.”
Trump continued: “You have to get your people to fight… We fight. And we fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Justin Vallejo10 February 2021 17:46
Raskin makes the argument against the free speech defence
“This case is much worse than someone who falsely shouts fire in a crowded theatre. It’s more like like a case where the town fire chief, who’s paid to put out fires, sends a mob not to yell fire in a crowded theatre, but to actually set the theatre on fire.”
Justin Vallejo10 February 2021 17:36
Prosecution: Provocation > Attack > Harm
This is the road map the prosecution is laying out in its case for incitement to insurrection.
Justin Vallejo10 February 2021 17:33
BREAKING: Trump declared ‘inciter in chief’ at impeachment trial as Democrats vow evidence shows he’s no ‘bystander’
Donald Trump has been declared an “inciter-in-chief”, as Democrats at his impeachment trial vowed to show evidence proving he was “no bystander”.
Andrew Buncombe will follow this story for more updates.
Justin Vallejo10 February 2021 17:18
Portion’s of Trump’s speech used as more evidence
Jamie Raskin highlighted Trump telling his supporters the have to fight. Trump’s defence will continue to highlight how Raskin has selectively edited the speech to cut off the former president telling them to do so “peacefully and patriotically”.
“He told them to fight like hell, and they brought us hell that day,” Raskin says.
Justin Vallejo10 February 2021 17:17
Trump’s tweets being used against him
Raskin is using the former president’s own words in their case of incitement to violence.
Justin Vallejo10 February 2021 17:14
‘Method in that madness’ says Raskin
House manager Jamie Raskin says what seemed like chaos during the Capitol riot was a planned strategy to overturn the results of the election.
“It seemed like madness, but there was method in that madness,” Raskin says.
Justin Vallejo10 February 2021 17:11