Washington DC, SAEDNEWS, Feb. 13: The Senate's second impeachment trial of Donald Trump raced toward a conclusion on Friday, with the former President's legal team quickly finishing its presentation and senators taking their turn to pose written questions to the legal teams.
Trump's team wrapped up its presentation in a little more than three hours before the question-and-answer session concluded several hours later Friday evening. In their brief argument, Trump's team equated the former President's speech with Democrats' rhetoric -- showing lengthy montages of Democratic politicians saying they would "fight" -- to argue that Trump's words on January 6 did not incite the rioters who attacked the Capitol afterward.
During the Senate questions, the key Republicans who could vote to find Trump guilty focused on the actions of the then-President as the riot unfolded and then-Vice President Mike Pence was endangered, a topic that Trump's lawyers did little to address during their argument or when the GOP senators posed the questions.
The defense team's presentation showed Democratic reactions to videos of protests and riots over police violence last year, comparing them to the attack on the US Capitol, while they argued that Trump's language telling his supporters to "fight like hell" was merely "ordinary political rhetoric." Trump's lawyers also falsely suggested Antifa was responsible for the deadly riots, rather than Trump supporters, and raised Trump's false claims of voter fraud in Georgia.
The presentation underscored the goal of Trump's team Friday: Do no harm. Unlike the Democratic managers, who hoped to win over Republican senators with their presentation, Trump's lawyers expect to already have the votes they need for acquittal, as most Republican senators are saying they will vote to acquit Trump because they believe the trial is unconstitutional.
The Senate could vote on conviction Saturday, when the trial resumes at 10 a.m. ET. At that point, the House managers could request witnesses, though they are unlikely to do so. If no witnesses are sought, the two sides would each get to make a closing argument, and a final vote could occur at 3 p.m. ET, though that is still not locked in.
During their two days of arguments, the House managers tried to force senators to confront the horrific images in a bid to change Republican minds, while Trump's team was more than content with a partisan draw. At the first break of the day Friday, the partisan division was on display in a way it had not been in the two days when the managers presented: Republicans praised Trump's lawyers and Democrats universally panned them.
In the final moments of Friday's session, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also paid tribute on the floor to US Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, whose heroic acts during the riot were seen during trial video earlier this week. Schumer announced that he would ask the Senate to pass legislation to award him the Congressional Gold Medal, which passed by unanimous consent moments later. The entire Senate stood and turned to Goodman with a lengthy ovation to acknowledge his heroism. Goodman put his hand to his heart in recognition (Source: CNN).
Former US President Donald J. Trump's Second Impeachment Confirmed in Senate to be Proceeded
