Former President Donald Trump’s chief impeachment lawyer warned on Tuesday that “the floodgates will open” if the Senate condemns Trump for inciting a deadly invasion of the Capitol by his supporters.
During discussions on the first day of Trump’s second impeachment trial, defense attorney Bruce Castor said that countless former government officials could face impeachment proceedings if House Democrats, led by Congressman Jamie Raskin ( D-Md.), To prevail against the ex-president.
“If you follow the road Mr. Raskin asks to go down, the floodgates will open,” Castor told the Senate.
“The political pendulum will change one day. This chamber and the chamber on the other side will change someday and party impeachments will become commonplace ”.
Castor suggested that politicians could end up being elected to Congress by campaigning under the promise of impeachment of controversial government figures, specifically mentioning former Attorney General Eric Holder and the unsuccessful investigation of the “Fast and Furious” arms trade.
In response to Democratic attacks on Trump’s claim that he cannot be tried because he is no longer in office, Castor also said that “the idea of an amnesty in January is absurd.”
If Trump really played a role in the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill, Castor said, “after he leaves office, go and arrest him.”
“The Department of Justice knows what to do with these people,” he said.
Castor noted that some of the people accused of invading Congressional corridors have been accused of conspiracy, but that “none” has been accused of conspiring with Trump.
Castor also accused House Democrats of having purely political reasons for Trump’s impeachment on January 13, a week before he was replaced by President Biden.
“Why are we here?” he asked.
“The majority of the Chamber of Deputies does not want to face Donald Trump as a political rival in the future. That is the real reason we are here. “
Castor, who presented his case in front of co-counselor David Schoen, seemed to make his comments offhand and sometimes rambled, in sharp contrast to the statements prepared by Raskin, Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) And Deputy David Cicilline (D-Rhode Island), who also used video and other visual aids to illustrate his comments.
A source close to Trump said the change was intentional.
“It’s about lowering the temperature after the Democrats’ emotionally charged opening, before hammering out on the unconstitutional nature of this impeachment witch hunt,” said the source.