How Michigan played a role in Donald Trump’s second impeachment

LANSING, Mich. – Many senators cast “innocent” votes on Saturday to absolve Donald Trump of inciting the January 6 deadly attack on the United States Capitol.

READING: The most recent: Donald Trump acquitted in second impeachment

The attack on the Michigan Capitol in April 2020 was cited by impeachment managers several times as an example of what led to the deadly uprising on January 6, 2021.

“Michigan State House was effectively a dress rehearsal at the state level for the takeover of the United States Capitol,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin.

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House managers also pointed to the sharp feud between the former president and governor Gretchen Whitmer.

“After the armed siege in Lansing, President Trump refused to condemn the attacks on the Michigan Capitol or denounce the violent lawbreakers,” said Raskin.

Livonia Sen. Dayna Polehanki’s picture of armed men at the Michigan State Senate Gallery is now an official record of American history.

“I certainly didn’t think that photo – that commemorates that day – would be used by the House’s impeachment administrators in Donald Trump’s second impeachment, but it doesn’t escape me that it’s historic,” said Polehanki.

She said she was not surprised to see pictures of Michigan during the impeachment.

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“I think the April 30 invasion of Michigan’s Capitol is likely to have been a kind of dress rehearsal for what happened at the US Capitol on January 6,” said Polehanki. “And I think the people who looked after Capitol in DC saw it in Michigan. It happened with impunity. “

Polehanki also called for a total ban on firearms at the State Capitol, following the ban on open arms in January. So far, Republican Party lawmakers have indicated that banning open transport is the maximum they want.

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