Senators from both parties said it was difficult to relive the experience of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in the new evidence presented by indictment managers, outlining the movements of rioters. On the second day of former President Trump’s indictment, House House indictments gave evidence that included security footage not previously seen as part of their argument that Trump incited the crowd.
The testimony presented Wednesday showed how rioters entered the Senate chamber while senators were there. GOP senator Dan Sullivan said he was ‘angry’ to look at the recordings.
“We know it would be an intense experience, it brings me back at least a lot of anger,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan’s fellow Republican colleague, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said she has multiple emotions as she relives her experience that day with a “more comprehensive timeline.” She calls it ‘disturbing’.
“I know I felt in the Senate when I could hear the voices. I knew what it meant to run down this corridor with my colleagues,” Murkowski added. “I was not fully aware of everything that happened in the building. So if you see all the pieces coming together, the total awareness of it, the extent of it, this threat, is not just for us as humans, legislators, but the threat to the institution and what Congress represents. It’s disturbing. ‘
GOP whip Senator John Thune remarked to reporters that it was a “traumatic” day for many in attendance and said the presentation by the House Managers was a “hard reminder of what happens when you get something like this out of hand” let jerk. “
“I think they were very effective. They put together a strong, strong performance in a way that I think makes it pretty compelling,” Thune said. However, he did not say whether he believed Mr. Trump is not responsible for the events of January 6, although he acknowledges that the executives “did a good job of connecting the dots.”
New safety material from 6 January U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman has shown that he led Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah to safety before encountering and leading the violent crowd. Romney told reporters it was the first time he had seen the video and did not know it was Goodman.
‘Natural [it was] very worrying to see the great violence our Capitol police and others are being subjected to, “Romney said. It tears to your heart and brings tears to your eyes. It was overwhelmingly upsetting and emotional. ‘
Although some senators acknowledge that the footage was difficult to view, they remain adamant that the Senate does not have the constitutional capacity to prosecute Mr. To accuse Trump. Senator Ted Cruz said the footage provided by the House Managers was ‘awful’, but indicated that he did not consider this argument relevant to the trial.
“Today’s presentation was a powerful and emotional revival of a terrorist attack on the capital of our country, but very little has been said about how specific behavior of the president meets the legal standard,” Cruz said. The executives, however, spent much of the afternoon outlining how Trump’s words may have provoked his supporters.
Democrats also talked about the intensity of the footage.
In a brief statement to reporters during the break, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he considered the executives’ presentation “compelling”.
“It was violent. The bravery of our police officers is incredible. It was compelling. And I just hope our Republican colleagues have an open mind when they look at what we saw today. The drivers just made an overwhelmingly convincing case. ., as far as I am concerned, ”Schumer said.
Senator Mazie Hirono said “you can’t help but be horribly affected by what happened here.”
“I want to say to the Republicans, ‘How do you live with yourself after all this if you are not going to convict the man?’ Hirono said.