Impeachment of Donald Trump: "This trial will open new, deep wounds"
The US Senate opened Tuesday, February 9, the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, accused of "incitement to insurgency" in the murderous assault on the Capitol.
A high security hearing. The US Senate opened Tuesday, February 9, the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, accused of "incitement to insurgency" in the murderous assault on the Capitol. After the first passes of arms between accusation and defense, a majority of senators considered that this trial was in accordance with the Constitution and could continue, during a vote at the end of the first day of hearing. In total, 56 senators versus 44 voted to continue the trial of the former president as part of the impeachment process, even though he has left the White House and is no longer a private citizen.
A pass of arms between accusation and defense.
"This lawsuit will open new, deep wounds in the nation as many Americans see it for what it is: an attempt by a group of politicians to oust Donald Trump from politics and rob 74 million of their rights. voters ", pleaded one of his lawyers. The prosecution case is based on "concrete and solid facts", declared the elected and democratic prosecutor Jamie Raskin earlier, by broadcasting at the opening of the trial of the former president in front of the Senate a video montage to charge .
A doubly historic trial.
This is the first time that a former US president has been tried for impeachment. And on January 13, the real estate mogul had already become the first president to be twice hit with an "impeachment" in the House of Representatives, this time for "incitement to insurgency".
The jurors who were witnesses and victims of the attack.
Extraordinary detail, the 100 senators who will serve as jurors were thus the witnesses, and victims, of the attack. The strong images of these moments and Donald Trump's speech to his supporters a few minutes before should occupy a central role in the accusation. Outside, the unprecedented security measures surrounding the Capitol recall the violence, and the shock, caused by the assault.
Donald Trump will not attend his trial.
Now living in Florida, the billionaire will not go to trial. And there is little doubt that he will, at his term, be acquitted, as the first time a year earlier. The Constitution requires a two-thirds majority for a guilty verdict. Even though Republican senators have sharply criticized the role of the 45th US president in the violence, it seems unlikely that 17 of them will join their voices to the 50 Democrats in condemning the billionaire.
A vote early next week?
One thing, however, unites the two camps: they want to go fast, and a final vote could take place as early as the beginning of next week. Republicans because they don't want to dwell on a streak that divides their ranks; Democrats because they want the Senate to be able to quickly focus on their priority again: approving Joe Biden's candidates and laws.
