Never before has footage from the Capitol security camera forced senators to relive the disturbing attack and confront cold details about the incredibly serious threat posed to everyone in the Capitol, including lawmakers.
Indiana Republican Sen. Mike Braun called the video “sounding” and said, “It’s just as hard to take now as it was then.”
Asked if Wednesday’s presentation would have an impact on how he would vote, Braun replied, “No, because I’ve seen most of it,” and I said it’s okay to review it, but I know. not going to make a difference for any senator who just wants it going again. ‘
Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said: “It’s hard to describe the videos being shown in the Senate, calling it a ‘horrible situation.’ But when asked if it would affect his voice, he said, “Listen, you have to weigh all the information together.”
In addition to broadcasting the video footage, executives spent much of the first day arguing to address the issue of Trump running a month-long campaign to lie to his supporters that the election was stolen , which provoked their anger over the false belief that results were fraudulent and urged them to violently disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
“Donald Trump has committed a massive crime against our Constitution and our people and the worst violation of the presidential oath,” said Jamie Raskin, the head of the indictment. “He must be convicted by the United States Senate.”
As soon as the executives conclude their presentation on Thursday, the former president’s legal team can begin their rebuttal.
Castor on Wednesday underestimated the importance of the video recordings for the trial and said the House executives did not link the acts of the rioters to the former president.
“I have learned nothing I did not know yet. We know that a mob has reached the Capitol and wreaked havoc in the building. I’m waiting for them to connect it with President Trump and so far it has not happened. ., “he said.
Asked if he was concerned that the video would have an emotional impact on the jury, he said: ‘It will have an emotional impact on any jury. But there are two sides to the coin and we did not play ours. ‘
Trump’s legal team has so far argued that the administration ignores Trump’s remarks on January 6 that the protests should be peaceful, while claiming that his call for supporters to fight is figurative political speech protected by the First Amendment.
After Trump’s team concludes, the Senate will have up to four hours to ask written questions to the legal teams, and then the House of Representatives can ask for a vote to hear witnesses. But it is not yet clear if they are planning it.
CNN’s Ted Barrett contributed to this report.