[ad_1]
Status: 02/13/2021 8:14 pm
The United States Senate has now decided not to hear witnesses in the impeachment process against former United States President Trump. The prosecution and defense now present their pleadings, which are then followed by voting.
In the impeachment trial against former US President Donald Trump, no witnesses are questioned. Democrats and Republicans agreed to formally include a written statement from a Republican congressman as evidence. Subsequently, Democratic prosecutors waived a subpoena from MP Jaime Herrera Beutler, who had made accusations against Trump.
With that could begin the final arguments of the prosecution and defense. Chief Prosecutor Jamie Raskin said in his statement that Trump’s prosecutors urged the former US president to be convicted. The burden of proof of Trump’s responsibility in the assault on the Capitol by his supporters on January 6 was “overwhelming and irrefutable.” The then president called the mob to Washington, incited the crowd and then lit the fire.
The prosecution process is expected to end soon
Jule Käppel, ARD Washington, tagesschau24 2 pm, February 13, 2021
Trump’s defense threatened Pelosis with a subpoena
Rep. Beutler reported Saturday night about a phone call between Trump and the Republican minority leader in the House of Congress, Kevin McCarthy, during the assault on the Capitol on January 6, and thus again incriminated the former president. McCarthy had reportedly urged Trump in the conversation to step in and immediately ask his supporters to back off. Trump refused, saying, “Kevin, I think these people are more upset about the election than you are.”
Trump’s defense attorney, Michael van der Veen, said in the Senate that if witnesses were summoned he would need “more than 100 statements,” “not just one.” He asked that the trial be completed without witnesses. “Now is the time to end this.” Van der Veen threatened to summon the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and the Vice President, Kamala Harris.
His request for a statement from the Democrats apparently was primarily intended to dissuade prosecutors from opening the door to hear additional witnesses.
Conviction is still unlikely
Yesterday the defense of Trump rejected all the accusations of the opposite side and spoke of “monstrous lies”. In addition, the lawyers once again described the impeachment process against the former US president as “un-American”, unconstitutional and politically motivated.
On January 6, supporters of President-elect Trump violently stormed the Capitol in the capital Washington DC. Congress met there to officially confirm the electoral victory of Trump’s successor, Joe Biden. Five people died in the riots.
McConnell apparently belongs to Trump
According to the indictment, Trump had incited his followers immediately before. Among other things, he said: “If you don’t fight like the devil, you will have no more land.” Therefore, the Democrats accused him of “inciting a riot” and began the impeachment process in the House of Representatives. They also want to get the former president excluded from future political office at the federal level.
The impeachment process is managed and decided in the Senate. It still seems like an acquittal for Trump. According to US media reports, the influential leader of the Republican and parliamentary group in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, does not want to oppose Trump. He told his fellow party members today. To be convicted, 17 Republicans would have to join 50 Democrats in the Senate.
It was just a metaphor: Trump’s defense in the impeachment case
Jule Käppel, ARD Washington, February 13, 2021 9:46 am
