The US lawmakers are debating whether former President Donald Trump actually incited the protesters that raided US Capitol last month.
The Democratic-controlled Senate kicked off the second day of impeachment on Wednesday.
The first day mostly focused on the constitutionality of the impeachment, given the fact that Trump is no longer in office.
Impeachment Recap, Day 1: It Was the Best of Lawyering, It Was the Worst of Lawyering. Let’s see what Day 2 has in store . . . Because #JusticeMatters #TeamJustice https://t.co/2nybc1e4cF via @YouTube
— Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) February 10, 2021
The lawmakers referenced Trump’s conduct, including his tweets, arguing in favor of his role in the deadly breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Tx) cited a tweet from Trump last May stating that the election would be "the greatest Rigged Election in history," and another from the former president in July asserting that "2020 will be the most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history" due to an increase in mail-in ballots.
"This is clearly a man who refuses to accept the possibility or the reality in our democracy of losing an election," Castro said. "All of us know and all of us understand how dangerous that is for our country. Because the most combustible thing you can do in a democracy is convince people that an election doesn't count. That their voice and their vote don't count.”
Here’s the 13-minute video of the January 6 insurrection attack that was shown to the Senate today:https://t.co/51p2z6cZIJ
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) February 9, 2021
Most of the Senate are voting on party lines with a few exceptions, Republicans who have flipped against the former president.
"When it comes to defending the Constitution, I don't usually do a poll before I take my vote, but since the vote I took is the conservative constitutional position I think as people become familiar with that they will agree with me," said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.).
Yet, the majority of Republicans are still backing their defeated leader, including staunch Trump supporter, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
“I think his team will do better, can do better,” Graham told reporters. “I reinforced to the president, the case is over. It’s just a matter of getting the final verdict now.”
Senators also highlighted Trump’s remarks before the protest by his supporters against the victory of now President Joe Biden.
“We’re not going to let this election be taken from us, that’s the only way they’re going to win,” Trump said in a video played before the Senate.
House impeachment managers believe Trump was singularly responsible for the Capitol violence and he should be convicted and barred from holding office ever again.