Today at noon ET, the second impeachment trial of former POTUS Donald Trump continues with opening arguments from his defense.
Stay tuned for coverage from @JackRodgersCNS and I for @CourthouseNews.
Stay tuned for coverage from @JackRodgersCNS and I for @CourthouseNews.
ICYM our coverage from yesterday when House managers wrapped their arguments, I got you:
courthousenews.com/impeachment-sh…
courthousenews.com/impeachment-sh…
Defense team has up to 16 hours over two days to make their case but the rumblings around town are Trump's attys want to end this expeditiously, so we could very well see this thing come to a close on Saturday.
Expecting defense to open and close with the 8 hour allotment today. Expecting arguments on constitutionality (resolved but they will likely pursue anyway) and expecting a lot of pointing to Dem objections in 2016 EC count. Note: objections legal, insurrection illegal.
I will live tweet today but will be a bit late. Join me after 1pm ET for updates as we go. In the meantime, be sure to follow @JackRodgersCNS for today's preview (coming up).
Earlier thread deleted because I misidentified Trump's attorney. My sincere apologies and no offense meant. Regret the error.
Reposting thread now in entirety with the correct name of atty now speaking: Michael Van Der Veen.
@CourthouseNews
Reposting thread now in entirety with the correct name of atty now speaking: Michael Van Der Veen.
@CourthouseNews
.Moments ago: the impeachment trial got underway and we have began with former President Donald Trump's atty Michael Van Der Veen saying that Trump's speech on Jan. 6 before the siege could "never be misconstrued" as incitement of insurrection.
Van Der Veen calls impeachment an "act of political vengeance" by Democrats & a "witch hunt." He adds: Trump's 1/6 speech & "his entire challenge to election results was squarely focused on how the proper civic process could address any concerns thru the established legal system"
Van Der Veen plays a clip where Democrats lodged their objections to electoral count in 2017 when Trump won. We're starting out as expected today w/heavy emphasis on the constitutionality of this impeachment - but that has been resolved. So onus in on defense to go beyond that.
Catch up on what we're working with today on the fourth day of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial. courthousenews.com/trump-defense-…… via
@JackRodgersCNS
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@JackRodgersCNS
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Trump atty van der Veen said rioters were "extremists of various different stripes and political persuasions" and added that the 1/6 attack was "pre-planned & premeditated." He then suggests antifa was part of this.
In month since, FBI has said no indication of this.
In month since, FBI has said no indication of this.
Trump's attorney David Schoen is now up and he begins where he started during the constitutionality debate at the beginning of the trial, saying this process is fueled by and rooted in Dem hatred of Trump.
Schoen takes issue with House mgrs showing "never before seen footage" from the attack over the last two days at trial. He questions where footage came from.
It was security footage.
Now Schoen is attacking the press and suggesting there's no real evidence Trump had due process
It was security footage.
Now Schoen is attacking the press and suggesting there's no real evidence Trump had due process
In a dispute over verified accounts and other allegations not exactly central to today's trial:
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1360282988244852742?s=20
Defense plays clips of Democrats calling for the impeachment of Donald Trump from the last four years. And then clips of Dems saying they want to punch him.
So far Schoen's defense of the insurrection is clips of Maxine Waters, Johnny Depp et al saying they would punch him.
So far Schoen's defense of the insurrection is clips of Maxine Waters, Johnny Depp et al saying they would punch him.
A clip package 4mins long now show Elizabeth Warren rejecting Trump's policies & agenda over interviews during campaign season or appearing at peaceful protests saying she would "fight hard for the changes Americans are demanding" Its an attempt to show people use the word fight.
Defense presents Democrats use of "fight" when they defend/advance policy. We could easily find videos of R's/D/I's using "fight" because it is common parlance in the world of politics. But mgrs anticipated this: Trump's speech is about the context and pattern and practice.
Van Der Veen says "context does matter" and they agree with mgrs. He adds both sides have used alarming rhetoric.
I hesitated to tweet anything because of exactly this. It seems to be the same footage.
https://twitter.com/KimberlyEAtkins/status/1360292101825658889?s=20
Trump defense attorney accuses Democrats of "double talk" van der Veen: "Ignoring the Constitution would adopt the new 'Raskin Common Sense' doctrine we heard yesterday, eroding hundreds of years of First Amendment protections."
Less tweeting as I work to update my story for @CourthouseNews. You can watch a live stream here as van der Veen says House Managers cannot get past the first prong of the Brandenburg test from Brandenburg v. Ohio
oyez.org/cases/1968/492
oyez.org/cases/1968/492
The president used the word fight 20 times in his speech, they picked only two why.
van der Veen says this quite literally after defense not an hour ago used video out of context of Democrats using the word "fight" when discussing advancing their own healthcare agenda etc.
van der Veen says this quite literally after defense not an hour ago used video out of context of Democrats using the word "fight" when discussing advancing their own healthcare agenda etc.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Giving as good as they got after an emotional two-day display from Democrats leading former President Donald Trump’s impeachment, the defense team queued up impassioned video clips of their own for a compact rebuttal argument Friday.
courthousenews.com/trump-defense-…
courthousenews.com/trump-defense-…
I have to step away but @JackRodgersCNS will have the updates. Back tomorrow for the vote.
Avoiding discussion of the actual attack and the violence that unfolded there, or the threat that was posed to lawmakers, staff, or journalists inside, Trump defense David Schoen accused Democrats, of selectively editing video in their presentations.
courthousenews.com/trump-defense-…
courthousenews.com/trump-defense-…
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