WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 09th February, 2021) The US Senate begins hearing trial arguments Tuesday on whether to impeach former President Donald Trump over last month's violence at Capitol Hill with chances looking slim for his conviction in a chamber evenly divided along party lines.
Trump's opponents seek to use the sole article of impeachment - the incitement of violence against the US government - to permanently disqualify him from holding public office including running for president in 2024. His defense team urged the Senate to dismiss as unconstitutional allegations that Trump had a role in the January 6 attack on the Capitol by his loyalists who sought to prevent the congressional certification of his election loss.
Last month, the House of Representatives approved the impeachment article - which is akin to an indictment - in a simple majority vote. The Senate's subsequent role is to sit as a High Court of Impeachment - considering evidence, hearing witnesses, and finally voting to acquit or convict.
The Constitution requires a two-thirds vote for conviction, meaning that at least 17 of the 50 Senate Republicans have to join their Democratic colleagues. Last month, only five of them voted against a procedural motion to dismiss the trial on constitutional grounds, an indication that the impeachment lacks the necessary support.
Five people - four protesters and a police officer - were killed in the riots. The last time the Capitol was stormed was when British troops marched into Washington and set fire to the building in 1814. The attack on the Capitol came immediately after Trump, in a fiery speech near the White House, urged his followers to fight and not allow the election to be "stolen." The article of impeachment also alleges that in the months preceding the congressional certification of the vote Trump repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the presidential election results were the product of widespread fraud and should not be accepted by the American people.
As the unrest broke out, Trump condemned the violence and committed himself to an orderly transition.
His defense team argued that the Senate lacks jurisdiction over Trump because he holds no public office from which he can be removed. Their trial brief issued on Monday also claimed that all allegations against him are "self-evidently wrong" and fail to meet "the constitutional standard for any crime, let alone an impeachable offense." Trump's lawyers also accused the House of failing to conduct "any meaningful... investigation" that would allow "the 45th President's positions to be heard."
"The Senate should dismiss these charges and acquit the President because this is clearly not what the Framers wanted or what the Constitution allows," the brief said.
According to CNN, the Senate on Tuesday will conduct a four hour debate on the issue of the constitutionality of the trial to be followed by a simple majority vote. Starting Wednesday, each side will have up to 16 hours for presenting its case. Senators may debate and vote calling witnesses. Per the request of Trump's lawyers, the trial will adjourn for the Sabbath and reconvene on Sunday.
In December 2019, Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on the abuse of power and obstruction of Congress charges over alleged attempts to force Ukraine into probing Biden's son. But the Senate, where the Republican Party enjoyed a majority, acquitted him in February 2020.
