The Senate acquitted Donald J. Trump on Saturday of the charge of ‘incitement to insurrection’ closing remarks ended and the vote in progress.
After days of former President Donald J. Trump’s actions, House Democrats summed up their case by accusing him of impeccable act – citing his unwillingness to stop the mob that killed, maimed and clawed in the name of American democracy.
“Think for a moment, just a moment, of the lives that were lost that day – of the more than 140 wounded,” said Representative Joe Neguse, a Democrat from Colorado, one of the House executives.
‘Ask yourself if President Trump just went to the TV, just logged on to Twitter and said, stop the attack as soon as it starts. How many lives would we have saved? He added.
The Democrats’ tone, soft and emotional, suggested a striking contrast with the angry, large-volume final statements of Mr. Trump’s defense team that was inspired and possibly inspired by the former former president.
“Senators, do not allow the House Democrats to continue this male crusade,” said Michael T. van der Veen, a personal injury lawyer who is the most belligerent member of Mr. Trump’s legal team has appeared, he said. “You do not have to enjoy the urge to accuse, the dishonesty and the hypocrisy. It’s time to put an end to this unconstitutional political theater. ”
Earlier in the day, it looked like the trial might not end quickly. In the morning, the Senate voted to allow witnesses into the trial after Democrats made a surprise bid to sue Representative Washington Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler. They cite a statement she made Friday night and tell how Representative Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader, told her about a call he made during the Capitol attack with Mr. Trump, in which Trump said the rioters were more upset about the election than Mr. McCarthy was.
Lawmakers in both parties were blinded by the witness request, which came just after Senate Leading Republican Mitch McConnell privately told his colleagues that he was ready to kill Mr. Trump acquitted, confirming that a conviction is highly unlikely.
Five Republicans – Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah and Ben Sasse of Nebraska – joined the Democrats in a 55 to 45 vote to call for more witnesses and support evidence. (Mr Graham, who warned that Republicans would call a number of Democrats if witnesses were to be voted on, initially voted against the request.)
But to call witnesses, members of both parties would be eager to hear an accusation, and the House of Representatives and Trump’s defense team finally agreed to the statement. Herrera Beutler as evidence too late.
In a statement Friday night, Mrs. Herrera Beutler said that Mr. McCarthy told her on January 6 of his wild call to Mr. Trump while the Capitol was under siege. She said Mr. McCarthy said he met Mr. Trump has called for the riot to be called off in public and by force. “
Mr. Trump responded by saying that antifa, not his supporters, were responsible. When Mr. McCarthy says that is not true, the former president was brief.
“Well, Kevin, I think these people are more upset about the election than you are,” he said, according to Ms. Herrera Beutler’s report on what Mr. McCarthy told her.
The statement of Mrs. Herrera Beutler ends with a plea for those who were with him in the White House that day, or former Vice President Mike Pence, to come forward and share eyewitness accounts and details about what they saw.