The Senate meets again at 14:34 to discuss the last part of arguments from Mr. Trump’s legal team, presented by attorney Bruce Castor.
Castor rejected the characterization that there was even an uprising in the American Capitol, saying “there was clearly no uprising. Uprising is an art concept, it is defined in the law. It involves the takeover of a country, a shadow government, take over the TV stations and plan what you are going to do. ‘
He also chastised the Democrats for not addressing the assault with Mr. Trump did not commit, saying that the “only question to be answered was Donald Trump responsible for inciting the violence that came to this building?”
The Pennsylvania attorney also reiterated the allegation that the drivers selectively manipulated and manipulated the evidence they presented.
“Political hatred has no place in the American legal system and certainly no place in the United States Congress,” he said.
Castor played video clips of President Joe Biden during rallies and declared in speeches that his government would oppose violence and for law and order, contrasting it with the video of the Democrats played throughout the day. is.
“Make no mistake, and I will repeat it now and every time I am ever asked, January 6 was a terrible day for our country. The attack on this building shocked us all,” Castor said. ‘President Trump has not incited or caused the heinous violence that took place on January 6, 2021. They know it. ‘
According to Castor, there is evidence that Mr. Trump did not incite violence at the Capitol, his “admiration” for law enforcement and aversion to rioters and political violence.
“His years of hatred for violent protectors and his love of law and order are displayed, every day he served in the White House, carried on his sleeve,” he said.
Castor calls Mr. Trump the president of the greatest police and anti-mob in history. However, it took three days before the White House dropped the flag for the Capitol police officer who died after sustaining injuries during the events of January 6.
Castor also sought to refute Mr. Trump on the morning of Jan. 6, parts of which were played by the House executives in their presentation. Castor said the former president merely warned Republican senators and that members of the House can face primary challengers if they do not pick up the votes, and do not commit violence.
“The first way the Housekeepers suggested and wanted you to quit is the criminal way,” he said. “But what the president said was the American way.”
While Castor tried to demonstrate the violence at the Capitol, it was premeditated advice and did not come at the urging of Mr. Trump did not occur.
“The speech on January 6 did not cause the riots. The president did not cause the riots,” he said. “He did not explicitly or implicitly encourage the use of force or lawless action, but in fact called for every American to exercise peacefully the rights for the first amendment in order to convene their government peacefully and call for redress.
Castor also acknowledged another point of ignorance: he is not sure if his own testimony is under oath.
“I do not know if we are under oath here,” Castor said during his arguments.
Castor tried to defend Trump’s phone conversation with Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, saying there was ‘nothing wrong’ with the former president talking to a state’s top election official. Mr. Trump urged Raffensperger during the call to “find” 11,780 votes, saying, “there is nothing wrong with saying that, you know, you recalculated.” The former president won 11,779 votes against Mr. Biden lost.
“Let’s be clear. This trial is about much more than President Trump,” Castor said. “It’s about silencing and banning the speech that the majority disagrees with. It’s about canceling 75 million Trump voters and criminalizing political views. That’s what this trial is really about.”
After less than three hours of the 16 allotted to them, Castor settled the case in defense of Mr. Trump.
“This concludes the formal defense of the 45th President of the United States against the indictment filed by the House of Representatives,” he said.
The Senate is now in a brief recess.
– Melissa Quinn and Kathryn Watson