Senators from both parties said it is difficult to relive the experience of the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol in the new evidence presented by impeachment administrators that detail the movements of the protesters. On the second day of former President Trump’s impeachment trial, the House’s impeachment managers presented evidence that included security footage not previously seen as part of their argument that Trump has incited the crowd.
The evidence presented on Wednesday showed how the rioters came close to entering the Senate Chamber while the senators were still there. Republican Senator Dan Sullivan said that watching the film made him “angry”.
“We know it would be an intense experience, at least for me it makes me very angry,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan’s Republican colleague, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said she had multiple emotions as she relived her experience of that day with a “broader timeline”. She called it “disturbing”.
“I know I was feeling in the Senate chamber when I could hear those voices. I knew what it meant to be running down this hall with my colleagues,” added Murkowski. “I wasn’t fully aware of everything that was going on in the building. So when you see all the pieces coming together, just the total awareness of it, the enormity of it, this threat, not just for us as people, as legislators, but the threat to the institution and what Congress represents. It is worrying ”.
Senator John Thune of the Republican Party told reporters that it was a “traumatic” day for many of those present and said that the presentation by the House managers was a “harsh reminder of what happens when you let something like that get out of hand. “
“I think they were very effective. They had a strong, strong presentation, set up in a way that makes it very attractive,” said Thune. However, he did not say whether he believed Trump was responsible for the January 6 events, although he acknowledged that the managers did “a good job at connecting the dots”.
New security footage from January 6 showed US Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman directing Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah to safety before meeting and directing the violent crowd. Romney told reporters that it was the first time he saw the video and did not know it was Goodman.
“Obviously [it was] It is very worrying to see the great violence that our Capitol Police and others are subject to, “said Romney.” It tears your heart and brings tears to your eyes. This was extremely distressing and emotional. “
While acknowledging that the footage is difficult to watch, some senators have stood by saying the Senate does not have Trump’s constitutional impeachment capability. Senator Ted Cruz said the footage provided by House officials was “horrible” but indicated that he did not believe that line of argument was relevant to the trial.
“Today’s presentation was powerful and exciting reviving a terrorist attack on our country’s capital, but very little has been said about how the president’s specific conduct meets the legal standard,” said Cruz. However, managers spent much of the afternoon explaining how Trump’s words may have provoked his supporters.
Democrats also talked about the intensity of the shooting.
In a brief statement to reporters during the break, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said he believed the managers’ presentation was “convincing”.
“It was distressing. The bravery of our policemen is incredible. It was convincing. And I just hope that our Republican colleagues have an open mind when looking at what we saw today. The managers presented an irresistibly convincing case, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. Schumer.
Senator Mazie Hirono said “you can’t help but be terribly affected by what happened here”.
“I want to say to the Republicans, ‘How do you live with yourself after watching all this if you’re not going to condemn the guy?” Hirono said.