In day two of Donald Trump's second impeachment, the trial against Trump began after as many expected, the Senate voted the previous day to allow a trial to proceed against a president no longer in office. As I expected, the House managers did not focus on Trump's January 6th speech. Instead, they focused on facts leading up to the riot and during the riot itself. One telling fact occurred on January 4, 2021, where Trump told supporters “we’re going to take what they did to us on Nov. 3. We’re going to take it back.”
Leading up to the infamous day, Trump made dozens of comments spewing claims of fraud and inviting conspiracy theories related to the election. The Independent chronicles these irresponsible statements.
Watching today the power of the videos used by the House managers in their presentations, one sees in full view of the callousness of the acts of these terrorists. These depictions make it extremely difficult to not blame the person who sparked and promoted these attacks. But did President Trump incited the riot? His acts suggest he did—Ultimately, the query should not be limited to Trump's speech of January 6, 2021. He initiated the conspiracy theories with his baseless claims of fraud–despite his theory's failure in 60 lawsuits brought in the attempt to undo the election. Despite court after court rejecting his arguments, he continued to claim a mass conspiracy against him, his followers ad America itself, even on the very day of the attacks. But what is telling for me is that even after learning of the attacks on the Capitol, Trump continued to tweet, and attacked even his own vice-president, whose life was in danger. Trump could have acted sooner while the attacks were occurring, but he failed to do so. Instead he evidently wrote:
"Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify.' Even conservative Republican Representative Liz Cheney argues Trump made this tweet with the intent to "promote violence."
While the threshold for inciting violence under federal law is very high, Trump's behavior leading up to and on January 6, 2021, is simply indefensible. It is nothing short of despicable and needs to be punished. Ultimately, even Trump knew of his wrongs, as he delated the tweets he made during the riot. Yet, none of this will likely matter. Republican senators will likely vote to acquit. While Trump's speech alone likely was not enough to incite violence under federal law, or even under the political process of impeachment, his words before and after the riots started are damning, even if the senate ultimately acquits hm. History will not be kind to this sad man.
If there is credible evidence that Trump reduced or withdrew security at the Capital on 1/6, then the impeachment managers should have and would have introduced it. To the contrary, it is my understanding Trump wanted and authorized the National Guard to act on that day.
I would like to hear from all you "holier than thou" Dems. Who was in charge of security at the Capital on 1/6? What investigations are being authorized by the Dems (given that they are in control of both houses) to find out what really happened, and the reason the security was so clearly inadequate.
If there is one thing the events since 1/6 have shown, the Dems are quite capable of relying on teh police and the military, to brutal extents, when the Dems feel that THEIR interests are at stake.
All those folks whose lives were destroyed by mobs and riots that the Dems supported last year? Nah, they didn't deserve protection, did they?
“Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances, because I think this is going to drag out, and eventually I do believe he will win if we don't give an inch, and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is,” Clinton said.
"Under any circumstances." Now, tell us, oh ever so perfect Dem supporters, what did she mean?
ANd, while you are at it, perhaps you can explain the reason that businesses, all over the country, boarded up before the election, in anticipation of Dem riots and looting if Trump won. Voter intimidation? Nah … righteous threats to destroy lives and property. That's what the Dem mobs do soooo well.
"Joe Biden ought not yield under any conditions, since I think this will haul out, and ultimately I do accept he will win on the off chance that we don't offer a bit of leeway, and in the event that we are however engaged and persevering as the opposite side seems to be," Clinton said.