🧵It's on. Day 2 of the Trump Impeachment Trial 2.0. February 10, 2021. We will have a dinner break at 6 p.m.
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Manager @RepRaskin says this is about truth. This is not an accident as Trump's attorney Castor said
Importantly, Raskin is instructed the senators that this is now a trial on the facts. The question of jurisdiction is over as majority voted that the senate can hear case.
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Importantly, Raskin is instructed the senators that this is now a trial on the facts. The question of jurisdiction is over as majority voted that the senate can hear case.
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Raskin said Trump was not an "innocent bystander." Instead he incited the insurrection. He became the "inciter in chief." This was the greatest betrayal of the presidential oath in the history of the United States.
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Trump saw it coming and when violence ensued he failed to stop it and protect the Congress and capitol under attack.
He inflamed his followers because he refused to accept his opponent's election victory.
He was warned that his followers were planning to attack
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He inflamed his followers because he refused to accept his opponent's election victory.
He was warned that his followers were planning to attack
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He incited the attack, he saw it coming. An organized attack on counting of electoral votes by a Joint Session of Congress. Goal was to prevent the certification of the electoral victory of Biden over Trump of 306-232. (What Trump said in 2016 was a landslide margin)
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Raskin's goal is to show how Trump overtime stirred up the violence. Beginning on December 12, 2020. Raskin showed tweets, including this one from the 19th of December.
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Mob was organized "so openly" with weapons. They said they were sent there by the President of the United States of America. And when they arrived, he whipped these angry armed people into a frenzy and pointed then to the Capitol. Told them to fight like hell.
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And told them that they had to be strong to take by the country. And when the attack on congress members and capitol was underway he was "delighted" and was confused by why others were not as excited as he was. He sympathized with violent mob who attacked and killed.
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Then hours later, still on January 6, hours later, he did NOT show support for Congress or the public, instead he consoled the mob and told them that the election was stolen. Trump spread the big lie.
Reality is Biden won by 6 million votes and the electoral college
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Reality is Biden won by 6 million votes and the electoral college
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He told them on the video "I love you."
And then on a tweet at 6:01 people he says he knew this violence would happen and told them to remember. Not remember trauma, but instead a day of celebration, a rallying cry.
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And then on a tweet at 6:01 people he says he knew this violence would happen and told them to remember. Not remember trauma, but instead a day of celebration, a rallying cry.
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Jamie said "no trial is more public and significant than an impeachment trial." The attack was violent. Warned parents and teachers to watch alongside if children are watching and they will try to give warnings of the more graphic violent scenes they will show.
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Raskin is addressing a constitutional issue lingering from yesterday. Says Trump keeps trying to change the subject. Trump says the First Amendment protects him. But Raskin, a constitutional law scholar for decades (taught most recently at American University).
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Raskin, says this has nothing to do with ideology of Trump or his crowd. Trump willfully incited an insurrectionary mob to riot at the capitol.
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Last week 150 constitutional law scholars called the First Amendment argument frivolous. No right to incite violance than sit back and watch TV as the capitol was sacked.
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This case is much worse than someone shouting fire in a crowded theater but instead the fire chief telling the crowd to set the place on fire. That's not protected by the First Amendment.
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Violated oath of office for failing to preserve and protect and defend US by inciting and supporting the insurrectionists.
"You can't ride with the cops and root for the robbers" @RepRaskin said citing the late Justice Scalia.
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"You can't ride with the cops and root for the robbers" @RepRaskin said citing the late Justice Scalia.
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As president, Trump had a unique binding duty to take care that the laws are faithfully executed. When he incited the insurrection he broke that oath. He has no credible constitutional defense,.
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Raskin telling story of a capitol officer who fought for hours to defend the capitol. Crowd hit cops with baseball bats and fire extinguishers and force.
Afterwords, that office broke down in the rotunda, and cried. He said "I got called the n word 15 times today,"
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Afterwords, that office broke down in the rotunda, and cried. He said "I got called the n word 15 times today,"
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Is this America? Raskin asks.
Now he hands the floor to @RepJoeNeguse of Colorado's second district. Sorry that I said Ohio yesterday.
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Now he hands the floor to @RepJoeNeguse of Colorado's second district. Sorry that I said Ohio yesterday.
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Neguse says we used to take for granted, our hallmark of our democracy, the peaceful transfer of power. The mob was summoned there and incited by the President so he could stop transfer and retain power even though he had lost the election. And, he did nothing to stop it.
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Neguse sets out what they will show to demonstrate Trump incited the insurrection. Three parts. Provocation, Attack, and Harm.
He had the power to stop it and he didn't
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He had the power to stop it and he didn't
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This was not just a speech, Neguse said. When in our history has a mere speech led to the storming of the capitol and an attack like this?
Those words have a very specific meaning to that crowd.
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Those words have a very specific meaning to that crowd.
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Trump used the words that day that he had already spent weeks and weeks infusing them with a particular violent meaning. Those words "election was stolen" and "stop the steal" and "fight like hell" meant something very specific to that mob, @RepJoeNeguse explains.
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Neguse starts with the Big Lie: The Election Was Stolen, Those false claims were the "drum beat" to inspire, instigate and ignite them, to anger them.
He then shows a clip of several videos
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He then shows a clip of several videos
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Again and again, Trump kept saying his supporters at rallies that they "cannot let" the Democrats steal the election.
He tried in court, but ignored the adverse rulings (there were around 60 cases that were thrown out that challenged election)
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He tried in court, but ignored the adverse rulings (there were around 60 cases that were thrown out that challenged election)
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Trump also tried but failed to get the Justice Department. Tried to pressure Congress and then tried to pressure VP Mike Pence to refuse to certify the electoral votes. That failed.
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So, then he turns back to his supporters he told for months election was stolen, and then he turned it up a notch. They had to be ready not just to "stop the steal," but to "fight like hell."
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Video clip of several different speeches leading up to January 6th. Officials warned Trump that his conduct and rhetoric was going to cause violence.
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Ignoring danger, Trump didn't just tell them to fight like hell. He told them where, how and when. He gave them a save the date, to go to the Capitol on January 6th. At what time? Exact time when the Joint Session of Congress was meeting to certify Biden's victory
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Neguse walks through Trump speech January 6 where Trump uses words he had over months telling his supporters. He used speech to incite and inflame them further. To stop the steal to stop the certification of the results.
"You don't concede when theft's involved" Trump said.
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"You don't concede when theft's involved" Trump said.
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This exactly. Neguse calls Trump's January speech at the ellipse as a "call to arms."
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In the face of the warnings by law enforcement, even with people arrested with weapons headed to capitol, Trump listened to crowd shout "fight for Trump."
Then he replied "You have to get your people to fight." He incited it. It was forseeable.
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Then he replied "You have to get your people to fight." He incited it. It was forseeable.
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He said "you have to get your people to fight" this meant fight to stop Congress right then from certifying Biden as a winner.
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Neguse said that John Kelly, the day after, said Trump knows who he is speaking to when he tweets and talks to the crowd
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Neguse moves from provocation topic to "the attack." He says that he colleagues will go through that in greater detail. But what he does say that Trump had the duty as Commander in Chief to stop the violence at the capitol against the senators, congress, staff, police
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Neguse showed mob shouting "fight for Trump" and people saying they were invited by Trump to storm the capitol on January 6
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Even during the mob violence where they were chanting "hang Mike Pence," Trump still criticized Pence, three and half hours into the attack.
Trump said, "You're very special. We love you" to that mob.
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Trump said, "You're very special. We love you" to that mob.
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Think of the lives lost that day, and 140 wounded police officers, what would have happened if Trump has said "stop the attack" on Twitter or TV with even half as much force as stop the steal? How many lives saved? Sadly he didn't do that.
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Trump failed at stopping the count of the electoral college votes, thanks to bravery of many including senators in the room.
Still the harm is real. Damage is real. Five people lost their lives that day. U.S. standing in world harmed.
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Still the harm is real. Damage is real. Five people lost their lives that day. U.S. standing in world harmed.
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"They would have killed Mike Pence if they had gotten a chance." Were looking to shoot Nancy Pelosi, (In charging documents).
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Members of the mob believed they were following President's orders to take back the country. This is shown in charging documents and elsewhere.
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Neguse says he's hopeful we can use our resolve and our resilience to uphold our democracy as they did when the House and Senate certified the vote in the early hours of January 7.
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Raskin introduced @JoaquinCastrotx and @RepSwalwell to show the progression of Trump to stir up his followers to violence all the way up to the attack.
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Castro begins by talking about the danger and lasting damage of a lie. Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power. First time in U.S. history.
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Casto reminds us and shows video of Trump saying: "There won't be a transition of power, there will be a continuation."
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He made sweeping allegations of election fraud that could not possibly be true. But he didn't care about truth, he wanted to make his supporters angry like the election was being ripped away from them.
He built this foundation six months earlier.
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He built this foundation six months earlier.
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Also in June, and July. As Neguse explained earlier, it's a win-win. If he won, he won, but if he were to lose, then he had them already riled up.
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Shows several videos of Trump indicating he and his supporters will never accept the results if Biden were to win
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Trump is a man who refuses he could lose. He truly made his base believe that the only way he could lose is if the election were rigged.
The most combustable thing you can do in a democracy is to convince people is that their voice and vote don't count, especially if lies
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The most combustable thing you can do in a democracy is to convince people is that their voice and vote don't count, especially if lies
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Castro is laying out the provocation pre-election. Moving on to talk about the election itself.
He convinced based that counting votes was stealing.
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He convinced based that counting votes was stealing.
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Early morning after the election, he said counting was stealing, then a bit later in the morning, he claimed he had won. He said election was stolen from him and he has never recanted. He has never conceded.
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Then that same morning he sent out tweets "Stop the Steal" and "Stop the Count"
People knew what that meant. Supporters went to Arizona, some armed to stop the count
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People knew what that meant. Supporters went to Arizona, some armed to stop the count
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Castro continues to set out the evidence linking specific language from Trump "Stop the Count" and "Stop the Steal" as a call to arms. All of the country in swing states angry mobs shouting and sometimes armed tried to stop vote count
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Footage of fighting in response.
This shows Trump did know they would take up arms. When it was all over the news, he did now. When he lost he became more desperate, as Swalwell will show.,
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This shows Trump did know they would take up arms. When it was all over the news, he did now. When he lost he became more desperate, as Swalwell will show.,
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"His commands led to their actions"
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Glad to see @RepSwalwell
To build a fire, it does not just start with the flames. Trump gathered the kindling and poured on the fuel, so if he lost the election, Trump was ready to light the match
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To build a fire, it does not just start with the flames. Trump gathered the kindling and poured on the fuel, so if he lost the election, Trump was ready to light the match
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When Trump lost, he had his plan. He doused the fire with kerosene.
Swalwell is onto the Post-Electon provocation during which he tried to convince his followers that the election was rigged.
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Swalwell is onto the Post-Electon provocation during which he tried to convince his followers that the election was rigged.
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He had no evidence for his tweets including that dead people voted.
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He cast it in combat terms. You were either with him or fighting against him. Hundreds of tweets. Calls into radio shows. Lied about "midnight vote dumps" and "dead people voting." All lies. "Votes going up to the sky."
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He was triggering and angering his base to fight like hell to overtime a legitimate election. And it worked.
Trump focused on MI. Pointed to Detroit. Targeted governor. Said were more votes in Detroit than people. That's a lie. About half of registered voter voted there.
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Trump focused on MI. Pointed to Detroit. Targeted governor. Said were more votes in Detroit than people. That's a lie. About half of registered voter voted there.
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Protesters supporting Trump surrounded the Michigan secretary of state's home and shouted that she was a traitor.
Plenty of evidence that Trump's words had consequences. If he wanted to stop the threats and violence, he could have said it.
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Plenty of evidence that Trump's words had consequences. If he wanted to stop the threats and violence, he could have said it.
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He was NEVER shy about using platforms to stop something.
He could have said stop it with the threats of public officials. But instead, even with escalating violence he incited them further.
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He could have said stop it with the threats of public officials. But instead, even with escalating violence he incited them further.
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He lashes out at Republicans who were refusing to overturn the election results. The day before the electoral college met in the states he was active on twitter with more lies and threats.
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Then, on December 14th, it was official, the electoral college met and made clear that Biden had won the election. The outcome was clear.
Trump should have conceded and recognized the will of the American people. It was time for a peaceful transition of power.
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Trump should have conceded and recognized the will of the American people. It was time for a peaceful transition of power.
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But Trump now "directed all of the rage that he incited toward January 6" @RepSwalwell explained.
Trump spent millions of dollars to amplify the Big Lie. In mid-December he began spending $50 million to "Stop the Steal". Ads designed to run all the way to January 5
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Trump spent millions of dollars to amplify the Big Lie. In mid-December he began spending $50 million to "Stop the Steal". Ads designed to run all the way to January 5
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That multi-million dollar ad campaign on television, targeted text messages, videos online
Then on December 19th, he sent a save-the-date tweet. "Be there, will be wild" to get them to show up on Jan. 6. And he kept reminding his supporters.
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Then on December 19th, he sent a save-the-date tweet. "Be there, will be wild" to get them to show up on Jan. 6. And he kept reminding his supporters.
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😳 I missed this tweet. Trump prepared his supporters by saying the so called stolen election was essentially "An Act of War."
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Then same day he tweeted a phrase he never used before "History will remember" alongside familiar "never give up" and told them to show up on the 6th
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Many reminders, including inviting the "cavalry"
That should have been 64, so this is 65
That should have been 64, so this is 65
This was planned and pre-meditated. He was acting as part of the host committee. "And he warned us that he knew what was coming."
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He made the believe their victory was stolen so he could incite them to use them to stop the certification of the election, @RepSwalwell explained.
Stop the steal rallies. "These crowds were ready to fight."
"This is what he deliberately led to our doorstop on January 6"
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Stop the steal rallies. "These crowds were ready to fight."
"This is what he deliberately led to our doorstop on January 6"
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Swalwell makes clear our country supports free expression. But, that is not what Trump was doing. He repeated lies and commands and channeled their rage with a call to arms. Told people armed to the teeth to march to the capitol to "fight like hell."
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Bravo. Praise to everyone today, especially new house managers, Castro and Swalwell.
We are now on a fifteen minute break.
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We are now on a fifteen minute break.
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Ugh. I had double 63s and one got lost. Here it is.
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https://twitter.com/jentaub/status/1359570451308154882?s=20
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Dean is setting out Trump's efforts to retain the presidency
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More than 62 court cases all rejected the BIg Lie. Every single court rejected the claim that the election results were invalid.
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She points to the many examples
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Dean offers up excerpts from judicial decisions that clearly and decisively rejected Trump and supporter's arguments
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Dean is zeroing in now on the Wayne County board of canvassers (based in Detroit) who certified the results. But then Trump pressured the two Republican members of the board to reverse themselves. Trump then continued to pressure. Hosted Rs from MI to White House
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Trump spoke via a phone (held up) to a PA legislative policy hearing. He claimed he won the election in PA (even though he did not). Then he invited officials to WH, like he had done in MI. Telling leaders to disenfranchise voters in their state to let him win
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Dean is doing a fantastic job showing post-election efforts to claim victory when he had lost. Trump pressured governor of Georgia and Secretary of State. And, threats of violence to them and family were the result. And he knew.
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GA Secretary of State, Republican Brad Raffensperger published his op-ed in USA Today about the death threats to him and his family.
Yet after that on television Trump called him "An enemy of the people," and a "disaster."
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Yet after that on television Trump called him "An enemy of the people," and a "disaster."
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Election official Gabriel Sterling on television warned Trump and the world that Trump's words were inspiring violence. It was played over and over. He said someone is going to get killed.
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Trump pressured the governor of Georgia and pressured Raffensperger to 'find the fraud' when there was no fraud
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Dean then reminded us the phone call (that was taped) between Trump and the secretary of state Raffensperger where he threatened him with potential legal action if he did not "find" votes to manufacturer a win for Trump
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Public officials received death threats just so that Trump could hold onto office. She asks the senators not to forget this or overlook it
She is now done.
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She is now done.
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Dean has handed floor to @tedlieu.
"Like all of you, I love this country. I am an immigrant" his parents brought him to Ohio. They lived an a friends' basement. He as in air force.
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"Like all of you, I love this country. I am an immigrant" his parents brought him to Ohio. They lived an a friends' basement. He as in air force.
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He was in the air force, that is. Now in the reserves. He believes American is exceptional.
"How did our exceptional country get to the point" where a violent mob attacked officers, defiled the capitol
"President Donald Trump ran out of non-violent" way to stay in office
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"How did our exceptional country get to the point" where a violent mob attacked officers, defiled the capitol
"President Donald Trump ran out of non-violent" way to stay in office
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Lieu walks us through how Trump moved from attacking state officials to attacking congressional leaders
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He called Republican officials who would not support his lie the "surrender caucus".
Lieu said "Trump was coming for all of us."
Also pressured our Justice Department after coming after senators and members of congress
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Lieu said "Trump was coming for all of us."
Also pressured our Justice Department after coming after senators and members of congress
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Attorney General Barr pursued voter fraud investigations even AFTER a huge number of justice department officials objected to this. But, then Barr found nothing. He announced there was no widescale election fraud and any minor fraud had no impact on outcome
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Barr resigned a few days later. Apparently he said that Trump's theories about a stolen election were "bullshit"
Trump then pressured the acting AG Rosen who would also not play ball with him. Would not reopen investigation,
So Trump tried to replace Rosen with Clark
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Trump then pressured the acting AG Rosen who would also not play ball with him. Would not reopen investigation,
So Trump tried to replace Rosen with Clark
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All of Trump's efforts to overturn election. Next turned on Vice President Pence. Trump decided that because Pence presided over the joint session certification of election results. But this is not within VP's power. But Trump still attacked him to persuade followers.
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This was in early January just days before. And the morning of the joint session on January 6th. Speech and many tweets.
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And yet another tweet on that morning. And in a face-to-face meeting, Trump told Pence, he could either go down in history as a hero or a pussy.
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Thankfully our democratic processes prevailed and our democracy prevailed up to the morning of the counting the vote on January 6th.
That's when Trump ran out of non-violent means to hold onto office
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That's when Trump ran out of non-violent means to hold onto office
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Jamie Raskin introduces @StaceyPlaskett of the Virgin Islands. She is the first delegate ever to be on a team of impeachment managers and was his former law student. "She was an A student then and is an A plus student now."
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"Truth and facts are overwhelming that our president, the president of the United State incited a mob to storm the capitol to attempt to stop the certification of a presidential election."
"When he ran out of non-violent means to stop the election" he incited that mob
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"When he ran out of non-violent means to stop the election" he incited that mob
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"The bloodiest attack on this capitol since 1914." And yes, the violence "it was foreseeable."
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Plaskett is a star. She explained that his violence on Jan. 6th like the attack itself did not just appear. He knew the people he was inciting, and knew violence they were capable above, and had a pattern and practice of praising that violence and never condemning it.
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💯Trump had every reason to know they were armed, they were violent and ready to fight and "he still gave htem the marching orders to 'fight like hell and stop the steal.'"
The violence was not just foreseeable, the violence was what he deliberately encouraged.
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The violence was not just foreseeable, the violence was what he deliberately encouraged.
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Trump cultivated people to act violently. And when the violence erupted, he did not walk them back. He did not tell them no. He encouraged it. "He fanned the flame of violence and it worked."
This was a pattern of his.
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This was a pattern of his.
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She know provides examples and evidence, namely Trump's encouragement of the Proud Boys. On September 7, they attacked a man with a baseball bat. And at a debate he was asked if he was willingly to tell
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At at debate Chris Wallace asked him to condemn the Proud Boys and White Supremacists. He said, "Stand back and stand by." Then the group adopted that as their official slogan. They created merchandise with that slogan.
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Here are images of two proud boys who were arrested after the insurrection attack
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Plaskett said examples after examples where Trump did not condemn violence by his supporters. Example was in Texas when Trump supporters deliberately tried to run a bus carrying Biden-Harris campaign workers off highway and then crashed into car of B-H supporter.
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In response, instead of condemning, Trump encouraged and tweeted out a video of his supporters trying to drive campaign bus off road. He added a fight song to the video. His tweet said "I LOVE TEXAS!"
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And he went further, at a speech he joked about violence against the campaigners. "It was so violent . . that the FBI investigated the incident and the criminal responsibility of those who attacked the campaign workers."
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He saw investigation and DEFENDED his supporters' attack
He clearly knew he was inciting violence. And he praised the violent supporters as patriots.
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He clearly knew he was inciting violence. And he praised the violent supporters as patriots.
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.@StaceyPlaskett is methodically showing evidence of how Trump cultivated his supporters for violence. Words of incitement, words of praise.
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And here's the evidence. People involved in trying to run off the Biden-Harris bus whom he praised as patriots showed up again on Jan 6.
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And the Proud Boys he encouraged to stand back and stand by did. They came to the second million MAGA march on December 12. Shouted "destroy the GOP." Message is to destroy anyone who not let him stay in office.
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And someone there at the MAGA march was just getting started. He would return
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Once again, a call to violence. A former campaign worker called them the cavalry and whipped them up. Trump flew over the crowd
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After that second million MAGA march (organized by the Women for America First group), Proud Boys were violent
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Then Women for America First group moved planned late January rally to January 6th. Trump then became involved with them to plan the event.
Amy Kremer of Women for America First was encouraging people who were violent at the MAGA rally to come to the Stop the Steal rally
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Amy Kremer of Women for America First was encouraging people who were violent at the MAGA rally to come to the Stop the Steal rally
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The initial permit did not call for a march from the ellipse. Note, that Trump deliberately planned march with people who had done the MAGA one that resulted in tremendous violence. He sent his cavalry to capitol.
He invited them. They believed they were following orders
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He invited them. They believed they were following orders
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Trump invited them and his team most certainly knew about the plan to violently storm capitol that were circulating on the dark web. They monitored those sites.
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The exact thing that happened on January 6th was their goal.
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On January 4th on the Trump wins website he strategy was to storm and occupy the capitol as a militia, not a mere protest.
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Sorry. It was called TheDonaldwins website I think. The day before the insurrection they said they wanted to kill and some thought they would die in the battle
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Some members of the mob had maps, detailed ones. There were hundreds of these posts monitored by the Trump administration about storming the capitol.
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They had detailed posts about preparation, using earpieces to communicate. The invaders thought Trump will help them. Thought Trump could order the National Guard to "stand down." They thought the 2,000 capitol police (he could not control) were weak
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This was no secret. It was all over the news NBC, WaPo, Fox days leading up to the "rally." Violence was expected and predicted. Police warned about violence and weapons at event. The mayor of DC cautioned residents to avoid the area
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The Washington Post reported that the FBI said extremists were going to Washington DC to commit "violence and war". A supporter said, "go there ready for war. We get our president or we die"
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And there were arrests leading up to the Stop the Steal rally. Six arrests in relation to planned protest related to ammunition, assault. All in public view. Included leader of the Proud Boys arrested with weapons he planned to share with others
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His suporters saw the rally as a call to arms to attack the capitol. Law enforcement saw these as real threats.
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But in the face of this, when thousands were standing in front of Trump ready to attack he said "We're going to the Capitol and we fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."
That's why he must be convicted & disqualified
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That's why he must be convicted & disqualified
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"You saw a man who thought he could play by different rules". His rules were combat, fight, violence.
"This was not just one speech. This was weeks of deliberate effort to overturn the election results so he would not have to give up the presidency" @RepDean said
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"This was not just one speech. This was weeks of deliberate effort to overturn the election results so he would not have to give up the presidency" @RepDean said
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What was unique about his speech on January 6, he finally told them specifically that NOW was the time to fight and he told them where to go (to the Capitol) and what to do.
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He sent over thirty relentless tweets. 34 on the morning of January 6 it seems
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The first anxious angry tweet was around 1 am, it seems. Targeted at Mike Pence to stop the certification were desperate
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Trump was misguided, but he believed that if Pence refused the electoral votes and sent them "back to the states. . we win"
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Dean discusses warm up acts at the Stop the Steal rally. Don Jr. repeated phrase "fight for Trump".
Then Trump spoke for 70 minutes. "Take back our country" and same phrases he spread for weeks. Now it was immediate. It was no longer just fight. It was fight right now.
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Then Trump spoke for 70 minutes. "Take back our country" and same phrases he spread for weeks. Now it was immediate. It was no longer just fight. It was fight right now.
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"We will never concede. We will never give up. You never concede when there's fraud." Defend country. He also said "we will stop the steal."
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The Proud Boys who he told to stand back and stand by were there on Jan. 6th. And the organizer of the attack on the Biden bus whom he praised was there on Jan. 6th. And the violent people from the million MAGA march were there too. He was praising them.
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And he praised Rudy who said "Let's have trial by combat"
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At the rally he targeted Pence, said he "We're going to have to fight much harder and Mike Pence will have
to come through for us" and if he doesn't, that "will be a sad day for us." He called counting vote an "assault on our demoracy".
Then he sent them to the Capitol.
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to come through for us" and if he doesn't, that "will be a sad day for us." He called counting vote an "assault on our demoracy".
Then he sent them to the Capitol.
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He knew whom he was addressing, angry and violent supporters. "You'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength"
They "shout storm the capitol"
In entire speech he used the word fight numerous times, but only said something about peaceful once.
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They "shout storm the capitol"
In entire speech he used the word fight numerous times, but only said something about peaceful once.
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The commander in chief points to congress and told crowd, history is going to be made. He was trying to steal the election by getting his supporters to fight to take it out.
"When you catch somebody in fraud, you're allowed to go by very different rules."
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"When you catch somebody in fraud, you're allowed to go by very different rules."
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Actually, that comment was later, around 1:02 pm.
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"If you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore. . . .My fellow Americans, and for our children, and for our beloved country, the best is yet to come."
Crowd shouting "fight for Trump"
There was only one fight left and it was a mile up the road
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Crowd shouting "fight for Trump"
There was only one fight left and it was a mile up the road
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While Trump spoke, around 12:20, some attendees began marching. Large segments of crowd were at Capitol, listening to his speech on cellphone broadcasts. Northwest side of capitol was breached.
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At 1:10 with final order to fight at capitol, his followers surged at police and said "this is a revolution." After speech ended mob overwhelmed.
She heard banging on doors. For first time in 200 years, the seat of government was ransacked our watch.
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She heard banging on doors. For first time in 200 years, the seat of government was ransacked our watch.
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Recess until 4 p.m.
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Nicole Wallace had the count. I did not hear. Trump had said fight 20 times in that 70 minute speech.
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we are still on break. While waiting, here is an excellent piece to read by @nancylevine
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https://twitter.com/ranttmedia/status/1359595147160346634
We are about to begin. @SenatorLeahy is seated. We are just waiting for everyone to get settled. And now @RepRaskin is inviting @StaceyPlaskett and @RepSwalwell to walk through the actual insurrection.
There will be very graphic, violent footage coming.
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There will be very graphic, violent footage coming.
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Plaskett said that until she prepared for the trial, she did not completely appreciate Trump's purposeful attack on the republic, the democratic process, to prevent the certification of the election. Everyone who "works in and around this capitol" was in danger.
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Trump told followers Pence alone had power to overturn the election results if he would just do it. But on Jan 6th by letter he formally refused. He had the courage to stand against the President and tell the American public the truth". That patriotism put him in danger.
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Shortly after that, just before 1 pm, the crowd began to attack the barrier around Capitol. Shortly later, VP Pence gaveled in and presided over the joint sesson.
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We are now listening to and seeing transcript that we have not seen before. Desperate calls from police to dispatch
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We are now watching and listening to mob fighting capitol police at perimeter
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Perhaps 10 minutes later, they evacuated the capitol, and then a riot was declared at around 1:49 I think. Did not capture the screen shot when it had that info
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Red dot shows where Capitol is first breached
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At 2:14 security ushered Mike Pence out of the senate chamber very fast. Rioters were at that time breaking into the Capitol. And this shows where the rioters are breaking in
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We are seeing for the first time security footage (which has no sound). We can see mob approaching from the outside smashing in the windows. Sole police officer is overwhelmed.
Second man through window is in full tactical gear. Some carry bat. Some members of Proud Boys
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Second man through window is in full tactical gear. Some carry bat. Some members of Proud Boys
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.@StaceyPlaskett is remembering 9/11. It's now 20 years from them. She was a staffer and in the Capitol. She remembers that 44 Americans gave their lives to stop the plane that was headed to the Capitol building. "The Capitol stands because of people like that"
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She has me in tears now, comparing the insurgents to those attackers. But this time it was our own president who sent them to attack us, our capitol.
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Around 2:14 (I think she said), the House floor was evacuated.
She is showing Officer Goodman who passes Senator Romney and directs him to turn around to get to safety
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She is showing Officer Goodman who passes Senator Romney and directs him to turn around to get to safety
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She is now showing a video of Officer Goodman backing up the stairs as the rioters break in through the windows. WE have the sound now as the video is coming from the rioters (must have posted). They shout "USA" and "You work for us"
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They said they had no weapons, but actually at least one had a metal baseball bat.
They said, "where do they count the votes?"
They were coming to keep Congress a co-equal branch of government from certifying the elections.
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They said, "where do they count the votes?"
They were coming to keep Congress a co-equal branch of government from certifying the elections.
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They were 100 feet away from where VP was sheltering with family. Now she's showing video where they pass the door to the senate chamber. VP was not evacatuated until 2:26. Orange dot is Pence. Red is insurgent. Blue is Goodman.
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The mob was looking for Pence "because of his patriotism" because he refused to overturned the election. They were looking for Pence to execute him. Trump supporters erected a gallows on the Capitol lawn. Others chanted, "hang Mike Pence."
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This cry to kill Pence was happening elsewhere in the mob around the Capitol. They shouted, "bring out Pence. Bring him out. Bring out Pence. Bring him out."
Trump made the VP the target of his wrath.
"Pence lied to us, he is a totally treasonous pig" said one.
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Trump made the VP the target of his wrath.
"Pence lied to us, he is a totally treasonous pig" said one.
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Plaskett is talking about a Proud Boy named Dominic 'Spazzo' Pezzola , one of the first wave of rioters to breach the windows.
In an affidavit, a witness said these rioters were planning to assassinate @VP45 and @SpeakerPelosi
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In an affidavit, a witness said these rioters were planning to assassinate @VP45 and @SpeakerPelosi
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At around 2:15, Capitol Police evacuated Pelosi not just from the floor but from the entire complex
If the rioters had found Speaker Pelosi they would have killed her.
Pezzola has been charged with 8 federal crimes. "Anyone they got their hands on they would have killed"
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If the rioters had found Speaker Pelosi they would have killed her.
Pezzola has been charged with 8 federal crimes. "Anyone they got their hands on they would have killed"
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Someone named Calhoun boasted on his Facebook page boasted about breaking into her office and how the would have killed "Crazy Nancy", using Trump's name for her. They only left when the SWAT team came.
They kept searching for her
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They kept searching for her
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This is unbelievably terrifying. Mob is looking for her wandering halls. Man shouting "Where are you Nancy. . ." Her staff were hiding terrified.
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Pelosi's staff moved from offices, through halls to a conference room that has an inner door that they blocked door with furniture.
Minutes later rioters entered Speakers' office. Then rioter broke down outer door of the conference room but gave up on the inner door
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Minutes later rioters entered Speakers' office. Then rioter broke down outer door of the conference room but gave up on the inner door
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We hear a staffer whispering on a cellphone
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They damaged and broke into her office. Barnett who was there had a stun gun.
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He boasted crassly about breaking into her office, stealing a letter, called her a bitch,
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Very powerful conclusion by @StaceyPlaskett. Trump's mob ransacked the Speaker of the House's office. They set out to kill the VP and Speaker, second and third in line to the presidency.
He sent them there to hunt them down.
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He sent them there to hunt them down.
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Beginning with audio of capitol police officers, Swalwell transitions well from Plaskett. Officer were overwhelmed shortly after 2 pm.
Honestly, I am overwhelmed with this. Reliving this. Learning more about January 6th.
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Honestly, I am overwhelmed with this. Reliving this. Learning more about January 6th.
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I did not know this. After Pelosi was ushered out, @McGovernMA was presiding, trying to keep the counting going.
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Swalwell is showing us new security video we have not seen. This is another side of the Capitol. The red dot is the mob. Invader is carrying Trump flag.
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At same time, just one floor below, the mob overtook the area beneath the rotunda at center of capitol.
At that moment, 226 pm security told the House members to prepare to grab tear gas masks which were under desk.
Then 230, session ended.
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At that moment, 226 pm security told the House members to prepare to grab tear gas masks which were under desk.
Then 230, session ended.
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Security then warned the further and told them to stay calm.
"As I heard that announcement on the floor" he saw the new House chaplin say a prayer for peace.
He sent a text message to his wife telling her he loved her and their children.
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"As I heard that announcement on the floor" he saw the new House chaplin say a prayer for peace.
He sent a text message to his wife telling her he loved her and their children.
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The crowd got with in feet of the House door. One carrying a "Stop the Steal" flag.
They shouted "we want Trump" over and over. Then "Stop the Steal"
Someone said "no violence." Another responded "it's too late for that."
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They shouted "we want Trump" over and over. Then "Stop the Steal"
Someone said "no violence." Another responded "it's too late for that."
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They don't listen without violence someone else said
Around 2:38 I think he said, they were told there was an evacuation route. They put on gas masks and held hands. Jason Crow comforts colleague.
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Around 2:38 I think he said, they were told there was an evacuation route. They put on gas masks and held hands. Jason Crow comforts colleague.
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Ashlee Babbit one of the mob, tried to climb through the window where McGovern and others were. An officer shot her
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Not until 2:50 pm, six minutes after showing, staff and journalists remaining in gallery were allowed to flee.
They walk past an insurrectionist who police were holding at gun point. He had tried to open the House chambers door
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They walk past an insurrectionist who police were holding at gun point. He had tried to open the House chambers door
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Mob continued to fight to stop the fight even though House members had been taken to secure location. The insurrectionists fought with police who tried to get them out.
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Swalwell said the House Managers have been careful not to see the path or where the representatives were sheltering. However during riot, one of the insurrectionists was instructing others to find them, locked them in and turn on the gas.
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Senate chamber was not evacuated until 2:30 pm when mob had been in building for 15 minutes. He is showing a security video. Quick thinking senate floor staff grabbed the electoral ballots that the mob was after.
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The hallway where the senators moved through were very close to where officer Goodman was fending off the rioters. The public does not know how close the rioters came to you.
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Swalwell addresses senators and says you were only 58 steps away from where the mob was amassing. They were yelling. Video shows how police blocked hallway with bodies to stop rioters from reaching senate and staff
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He played the footage a second time to narrate it better and point to where the officers rushed "to protect you."
This security video had not been shown before to the senators (or us).
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This security video had not been shown before to the senators (or us).
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💔Very emotional moment. Feeling fear but also rage. Rage at the Republican Senators who will acquit Trump when these capitol officers put their lives and bodies on the line to save them from the violent mob Trump sent in to kill Pence, Pelosi, and them.
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Really, I am in a very dark place. I am only continuing to watch because I promised to live tweet, because I promised to witness this. But really, if they do not convict Trump, America is forever damaged. Or maybe, what I mean is the Republican party should be demolished.
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This is an image we have seen before of a rioter (who is now in custody, I believe) who was in the chambers not much later with handcuffs
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Swalwell is now bringing it home. This could have been so very much worse.
Insurrectionists were in hand-to-hand combat with these brave men and women on the capitol police force.
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Insurrectionists were in hand-to-hand combat with these brave men and women on the capitol police force.
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Swalwell warns the video will be unsettling. I am so far from settled now. Not sure what that could mean. He plays audio of the police officers. Mob was using munitions against them
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"We've lost the line."
Hours after senators and reps had left building, officers were left to defend the capitol. They are being crushed
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Hours after senators and reps had left building, officers were left to defend the capitol. They are being crushed
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We now watch an attack from the officers' perspective. Two hours after capitol was first breached.
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One police officer was dragged down the stairs, beaten. Tazed. Most brutal combat he'd experienced.
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Officer Hodges was crushed in doorway Three officer lost their lives including Brian Sicknick.
This is Hodges later recalling what happened and him being crushed.
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This is Hodges later recalling what happened and him being crushed.
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A recess until 6:15. Thank God.
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I am where @clairecmc is right now. Emotional. Reliving this is painfully sad. And I am also angry.
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While we are on break, I'll share new information we are learning. This brings all kinds of tears
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https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1359632071661076486?s=20
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We are back. It's 6:28 p.m. Rep. Raskin has invited Rep @davidcicilline to cover what Trump was doing during the insurrection on January 6th and how he failed to stop the riot.
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Not once on Jan 6th did Trump condemn attack or the attackers. The only person he condemned was his own VP
And the last thing he said that night was to Remember this day forever. "He got what he wanted," said @davidcicilline, and in Trump's mind, "we got what we deserved."
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And the last thing he said that night was to Remember this day forever. "He got what he wanted," said @davidcicilline, and in Trump's mind, "we got what we deserved."
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Now Cicilline is covering the time line between Trump's speech and the insurrection
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Trump said he was going to the capitol with the crowd, but he did not join them. Within minutes of his speech ending there were reports of escalating violence.
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More timeline
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"We didn't hear anything from Donald Trump until 1:49 p.m." The first thing he did when the violence is being broadcast. He sends out a propaganda tweet of him giving his earlier speech
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While he was speaking violence was breaking out. He may not have know that, but by 1:49 he definitely did. And the speech he retweeted said "our country has had enough, we can't take it any more, you have to be strong"
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People around him at the White House were disgusted. Ivanka went to WH and was trying to get her father to speak out and get everyone to leave
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Kushner and McCarthy urged him to tell his supporters to leave the Capitol. Even members of Congress called the WH begging Trump to act.
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Trump had the power to stop the attack. He had incited the attack. He could have commanded them to leave
The first critical hour and a half, Donald Trump tweeted his rally speech and did nothing else. He refused to defend the Congress. Why?
The President was "delighted."
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The first critical hour and a half, Donald Trump tweeted his rally speech and did nothing else. He refused to defend the Congress. Why?
The President was "delighted."
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Trump's reaction to this attack reportedly, genuinely freaked people out said Cicilline. He was delighted because it meant Biden's victory was being derailed. The attack had stopped the certification.
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First call Trump made (was not to check on Pence), instead he attempted to call Senator Tuberville. Instead he called Mike Lee. Lee had just ended a prayer.
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Trump said "Hey Tommy." Lee said this isn't Tommy, gave phone to Tuberville. On call Trump reportedly asked Tuberville to make addtional objections to certification process.
At that moment, this is what was happening then was this. House members told to put on gas masks
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At that moment, this is what was happening then was this. House members told to put on gas masks
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Trump wasn't calling to assess security threats or to check on anyone's wellbeing. He called to try to further delay the certification.
At 7 pm, Rudy Guiliani, president's personal lawyer called Mike Lee (thinking he was calling Tuberville), asking to stop certification
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At 7 pm, Rudy Guiliani, president's personal lawyer called Mike Lee (thinking he was calling Tuberville), asking to stop certification
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Trump's goal was the same as the rioters, to delay the certification. That's what he really cared about that day. He wanted to continue to pressure senators to prevent peaceful transfer of power.
A breathtaking dereliction of his duty and his oath as commander in chief.
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A breathtaking dereliction of his duty and his oath as commander in chief.
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"Donald Trump abdicated his duty to us all. We have to make this right. And you can make this right." -- @davidcicilline
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We now welcome back @JoaquinCastrotx to pick up where Cicilline left off, at around 2:15 p.m.
Insurgents were inside Senate and House.
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Insurgents were inside Senate and House.
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Trump called Mike Pence out eleven times during his speech before the crowd. By 2:15 p.m. the crowd's response was "hang Mike Pence."
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The attack was all over television, by then, by 2:15 Trump should have known that Pence's life and his family's life was being threatened by the people Trump sent to do violence at the Capitol.
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Even then, Trump did not tell the crowd to stop. In fact, he did the opposite. At 2:24 pm he attacked Pence on Twitter.
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😳Holy shit! Members of the crowd was shouting through bullhorn what Trump was saying in the tweets.
So, Castro's point is that the crowd was absolutely paying attention
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So, Castro's point is that the crowd was absolutely paying attention
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"Please take a close look at that picture, it harkens back to our nation's worst history of lynching." Castro is so powerful here. He says a president's words move people to action.
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Throughout history of our nation, we have had a peaceful transition of power after an election. Pence searched the law and understood he had no authority to set aside the electoral college vote.
Pence followed his faith, duty, and oath, and Trump's response was to attack
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Pence followed his faith, duty, and oath, and Trump's response was to attack
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"Mike Pence is not a traitor to this country. He is a patriot" and as Castro notes, he and his family did not deserve this mob targeting him just for doing his job.
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Trump's advisers and family urged him to stop this. And aide to Meadows told him to go see the President as he said they (the mob) are going to kill people.
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Then at 2:38 pm when violent mobs were storming the halls and screaming and shouting, Trump tweeted out to support the Capitol Police and law enforcement.
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Castro said, much has been made that he said "stay peaceful."
Yet, they were not peaceful. They were breaking windows.
Why didn't he say "stop the attack." or "immediately leave." It's because he did not want them to leave. He wanted to stop the certification.
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Yet, they were not peaceful. They were breaking windows.
Why didn't he say "stop the attack." or "immediately leave." It's because he did not want them to leave. He wanted to stop the certification.
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Not many minutes later, Ashlee Babbit was shot trying to climb through window to get at speaker's lobby. On Twitter people were begging Trump to tell his followers to stop the attack. Even McCarthy went on Fox news,
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And Rep Gallagher went on Twitter on video saying call it off. Then went on live television around 3:11 pm. He said he had not seeing anything like this since Iraq.
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Then at 3:13 p.m. he tweets. He does not ask them to stop or to leave. Instead he says "Thank you!"
Castro said, thank you for what? Injuring more than 140 police officers, shattering windows?
Though he said "remain peaceful" when they were clearly violent.
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Castro said, thank you for what? Injuring more than 140 police officers, shattering windows?
Though he said "remain peaceful" when they were clearly violent.
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Chris Christie said this was not enough. He said Trump needed to tell his supporters to stop the attack and leave the Capitol grounds.
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And only Donald Trump could stop the attack. As Adam Kinzinger said for a guy who knows how to tweet put out that weak statement
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How easy would it have been for the president to give a simple instruction for the president to give a simple command telling them to stop and leave.
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Castro moves on to the National Guard. Recall that rioters said Trump would help them by keeping Guard away,
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Trump did not send help to officers who were outnumbered and beaten down. Two hours into insurrection he did not send in the guard or any other law enforcement even though he was begged to do so.
In fact there is NO evidence that Trump EVER called for the National Guard
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In fact there is NO evidence that Trump EVER called for the National Guard
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🤬 At no point did Trump mention the National Guard that day and was not responsible for deploying it. It was Mike Pence instead who was still hiding from the rioters.
And it took 4 hours after the attack
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And it took 4 hours after the attack
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This is how severely the capitol police were outnumbered and President Trump did nothing for hours and also refused to send help.
One brave officer killed, others took their own lives after the attack. 140 injured. One lost an eye, spinal injuries, stabbed.
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One brave officer killed, others took their own lives after the attack. 140 injured. One lost an eye, spinal injuries, stabbed.
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Trump refused to send help. "He left everyone in this capitol for dead."
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Only at 4:17 did he send people home, but in the context of repeating his Big Lie. He said it was "fraudulent election" and that they stole it from you. He told his followers to "go home and go home in peace." Said 'we love you." Said he knew their pain.
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Even after "all that carnage" he told the same Big Lie. And the attack was still ongoing at that time.
This was three and a half hours. Not once did he say: I'm sending help immediately, I'll stop this.
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This was three and a half hours. Not once did he say: I'm sending help immediately, I'll stop this.
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Instead he sympathized with them. "We love you. You're very special." A message of consolation, support, praise. Not condemnation.
And his supporters saw it as a sign that "we won the day."
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And his supporters saw it as a sign that "we won the day."
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"Who won on January 6th? That's not a win for America, but it is for Donald Trump if we don't hold him accountable," said Castro.
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At 6:01 p.m. Trump sent a tweet linking the violence with his own feelings of election loss.
Trump means that I told you this is going to happen and you got what you deserve for trying to take my power away. He's saying to them "you did good." He's celebrating the attack
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Trump means that I told you this is going to happen and you got what you deserve for trying to take my power away. He's saying to them "you did good." He's celebrating the attack
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At 8:06 p.m. the Senate gaveled into session and counting continued and an hour later House did as well. And around 4 a.m. January 7, the joint session certified the electoral vote.
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Trump swore on a Bible to "preserve, protect, and defend," and who among us believe he fulfilled that oath? And who will let his dereliction of duty stand.
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Jamie Raskin is asking to recess until tomorrow.
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👀 Suddenly Mike Lee is asking his words to be stricken from the record. He said he did not make those comments to Tuberville.
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I am not following what is going on here. @MikeLeeforUtah is very angry as he says the statements were attributed to him that he says are not true.
He says it doesn't matter that they are based on depositions.
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He says it doesn't matter that they are based on depositions.
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Now @SenSchumer is asking for a point of clarification as to what the question is. Thank you.
Now they are calling the roll to see if there is a quorum?
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Now they are calling the roll to see if there is a quorum?
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Apparently it's parliamentarian of senate. She says his motion is out of order. That's what Leahy ruled. The rules of hearing don't give him right to strike his objection.
Lee is a Trump loyalist.
And all that was attributed to him is that he handed phone to Turberville.
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Lee is a Trump loyalist.
And all that was attributed to him is that he handed phone to Turberville.
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Most likely some other witness under oath (deposition) told the House Managers what Lee said. Again, it was not much that they attributed to him.
Also note that Lee voted yesterday that he did not believe the senate had jurisdiction, but he was in the minority
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Also note that Lee voted yesterday that he did not believe the senate had jurisdiction, but he was in the minority
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Lee withdrew his request as Jamie Raskin said he would withdraw testimony with right to include again. But it has nothing to do with case. Remember, all that they attributed to Lee was that he answered the phone saying hello and gave it to Tuberville.
Pathetic.
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Pathetic.
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Okay, I'm signing off until tomorrow. Have a good night.
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