In addition, a clip of Utah Governor Spencer Cox, saying that Trump should be held responsible, is shown at the trial.
{Susan Walsh | Photo AP) Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, left, and Sen. Cory Booker, DN.J., right, walk on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, February 11, 2021, before the start of the third day of the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.
Utah Senator Mike Lee took an unusual step on Thursday for a senator who was essentially a juror in former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial: he met with Trump’s legal team before presenting the case on Friday.
“Yes, it’s true,” confirmed a spokesman for Lee. “He met with them because they invited him. He would also be happy to chat with the managers of the House. “
National media reported that Lee, along with Senator Lindsey Graham, RS.C., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, met with Trump’s lawyers on Thursday afternoon after Democratic House administrators closed the case. case.
They discussed “how this format works, you know, the question and answer period, all of that,” said Schoen. “And then talk about where they are from and everything, but it is very good. I told them it was a great honor to have the opportunity to speak with them ”.
Graham was seen leaving the meeting and told reporters, “See you tomorrow.”
During the impeachment trial, senators are expected to be impartial jurors, hearing evidence from both sides before voting on the conviction.
However, in Trump’s first impeachment, then-Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell set a precedent for conferring with the defense.
Another facet of the Utah impeachment trial occurred on Thursday, when Democrats suing Donald Trump’s second impeachment used a video clip of Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox on Thursday to help defend even major Republicans. they say the ex-president should be held responsible.
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., Showed clips of five Republican governors who denounced Trump’s actions that led to the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.
“People need to be held accountable, and yes, that includes the president,” Cox said in a clip shown to the Senate.
It came from a January 11 interview that Cox gave on “Good Morning America”, and only a small part of it was shown.
In other parts of the interview, Cox then said of Trump: “I certainly think it would be good for the nation if he were willing to step down. I doubt that will happen ”.
When Cox was asked in that interview whether he would vote for Trump’s impeachment, he said: “Well, I would have to examine all the evidence, but I would consider it a lot. I can tell you this now. But I have no right to vote ”.
Del. Stacy Plaskett, D-Virgin Islands, one of the House managers who sued former President Donald Trump, narrated that moment to senators.
“In this security footage, you can see [Capitol Police] cop [Eugene] Goodman running to respond to the initial violation, ”she says. “Officer Goodman overtakes Senator Mitt Romney and instructs him to turn around to be safe.”
Romney is shown to turn and run to escape the crowd.
Of course, Romney is one of the most well-known members of Congress as the Republican Party’s candidate for president in 2012 – and is someone the crowd probably despised as the only Republican who voted to condemn Trump on his first impeachment. If the mob had found him, it could have been a disaster for Romney.
Romney later said, “I am deeply indebted to Officer Eugene Goodman for his bravery and I thank all the officers and agents whose heroic actions have prevented a tragic situation from becoming even more dire.”
Utah was also mentioned during a discussion on Thursday about the continuing online threats from Trump supporters – even after the January 6 riots – prompted states to increase security around their capitals before President Joe Biden took office in January 20th.
House impeachment manager Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, mentioned that Utah spent $ 585,000 to mobilize National Guard and Highway Patrol troops for such efforts, and this was included in a chart shown to senators on how much was spent by six states.