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Status: 02/13/2021 6:08 am
In the impeachment process against the former president of the United States, Trump, a conclusion of the process becomes evident. A conviction is unlikely, because it would also need some votes from Trump’s GOP friends.
In the United States Senate, after a violent exchange of blows between the defense and the prosecution, there are indications that the impeachment process against former President Donald Trump will soon conclude. Prosecutors again called for the Republican to be convicted of storming the Capitol. “This is about protecting our republic and setting the standards of conduct for presidents,” warned the Chief Prosecutor of the House of Representatives, Jamie Raskin.
Democrats insisted that Trump, who had shown no remorse, should be held accountable. “Donald Trump called in the mob, gathered the mob and started the fire. All that followed was because of his actions,” said one of the prosecutors, Congressman Joaquín Castro. When the Capitol was stormed and even Vice President Mike Pence was in danger, Trump did nothing, as Castro said. Rather than condemn the attack, Trump showed sympathy for the mob, Castro said.
Completion of the prosecution process
Tagesschau 04:56, February 13, 2021
Trump’s defense attorneys, in turn, denied the allegations and spoke of “monstrous lies” and again described the impeachment process against the former US president as unfair, unconstitutional and politically motivated. The charges against Trump are an “act of political revenge,” said attorney Michael van der Veen in the US Senate. The statements criticized in Trump’s speech were “ordinary political statements” protected by the right to freedom of expression, the lawyer said. As president, Trump has always advocated “law and order.”
Voting possible on Saturday
When asked, van der Veen also refused to admit that the former US president was defeated. Earlier, Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders asked if defense attorneys believed Trump had won the election. “My assessment is irrelevant in this process,” van der Veen said. Then he added: “In my opinion, it is irrelevant to the subject that this institution is dealing with.”
Deliberations in the Senate will continue on Saturday morning local time (4:00 pm CET). If the senators decided not to hear the witnesses, as expected, the defense and the prosecution would each have two hours for final arguments. Then the Senate could vote on Trump’s impeachment. The end of the proceedings on Saturday, after only five days, is not set in stone; the majority’s desire for a witness hearing or other procedural issues might prevent it.
Conviction is unlikely
On January 6, supporters of the president-elect violently stormed the Capitol. Congress met there to officially confirm the electoral victory of Trump’s successor, Joe Biden. Five people were killed in the riots, including a police officer. Trump had incited his supporters immediately before they had stolen his election victory. Among other things, he said: “If you don’t fight like the devil, you will have no more land.” Therefore, the Democrats accuse him of “inciting a riot” and had initiated an impeachment process in the House of Representatives.
They also want the former president to be banned from future political positions at the federal level. The impeachment process is managed and decided in the Senate. The House of Congress assumes the role of a court. So far it seems like an acquittal for Trump. To be convicted, 17 Republicans would have to join 50 Democrats in the Senate.
It is the second impeachment process that Trump must face. In the first, he had to answer in the so-called Ukraine affair for abuse of power and obstruction of congressional investigations. In February 2020, however, he was finally cleared of all charges by the Senate.
