Democrats praised former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate as a major victory despite his acquittal.
“It was a dramatic success in historical terms,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., Told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “It was the biggest impeachment conviction vote in the history of the United States.”
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“It was by far the most bipartisan majority ever assembled in the Senate to condemn a president, which has traditionally been a kind of party party in American history,” continued Raskin. “We have seven Republicans, and if you look at the ten Republicans in the House who joined us, it was by far the most bipartisan decision and a complete rejection of the president’s conduct.”
In this video image, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., Speaks after the Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump in his second Senate impeachment trial at the US Capitol in Washington, Saturday, 13 February 2021. (Senate Television via AP)
((Senate Television via AP))
Raskin and his fellow Democratic impeachment managers on Saturday received harsh criticism from both the left and the right after their total reversal of calling witnesses at Trump’s Senate trial.
Critics said the Democrats “gave in” by having a press release by Congressman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., Read on the record after initially asking to testify her – a move that could potentially bring many more witnesses and extend the trial for weeks.
“We were going to continue doing it,” said Raskin. “So the Republicans agreed to allow the evidence to be recorded. You asked about other people who could have stood up and lied. We don’t know what Kevin McCarthy would have said.”
“We could have 1,000 witnesses, but that couldn’t get past the kinds of silly arguments that people like McConnell and [Sen. Shelley Moore] Capito was hanging up his hats, “he continued.
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Raskin’s fellow impeachment manager in the House, Democratic delegate Stacey Plaskett of the US Virgin Islands, echoed his sentiment during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union”.
“Just to let the American public know, witnesses at a Senate hearing do not attend the senators and make any statements. It’s a testimonial. It is recorded on video and presented to the Senate, ”said Plaskett. “So I know people are feeling a lot of anguish and believe that maybe if we had that, the senators would have done what we wanted, but, listen, we didn’t need more witnesses, we needed more senators with thorns.”
Plaskett, a former Republican, accused Trump of trying to “assassinate” former Vice President Mike Pence.
“We knew they were hostile witnesses. They were not going to testify,” she said. “Has anyone heard of Vice President Pence? The man tried to murder him and has yet to report.”
In this video image, a security video shows Vice President Mike Pence being evacuated while protesters violate the Capitol, while House impeachment manager Del. Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands speaks during the ex’s second impeachment trial President Donald Trump in the Senate at the US Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, February 10, 2021. (Senate television via AP)
Plaskett also told Jake Tapper of CNN that he was aware that some Republican senators could have withdrawn their “guilty” votes if witnesses had been called and the trial had been extended.
“I heard from a Democratic senator who was rumored that if you don’t close, you’re going to lose senators, like Richard Burr of North Carolina,” said Tapper.
“We heard that,” replied Plaskett.
“Was that part of the decision making?” Tapper asked.
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“No, I think we wanted to do what we wanted and did,” said Plaskett. “We believe we have proved the case. We prove the elements of an impeachment article. It is clear that these individuals were hardened, that they did not want the president to be condemned or disqualified. They are afraid of their base. fear of losing power, of losing their seats. “
Fox News’ Tyler Olson contributed to this report.