A lawyer representing the former President Trump
Donald TrumpBiden reverses Trump’s last-minute attempt to freeze 0.4 billion programs Trump announces new legal impeachment team after reported matches Republicans struggle to unify toward the next election cycle MORE in his impeachment trial next week, plans to argue that condemning Trump for inciting a riot would jeopardize any political speech.
Speaking on Monday night on Fox News’ “Hannity” program, attorney David Schoen presented a three-pronged strategy for Trump’s defense.
Schoen and lawyer Bruce Castor plan to argue that it is unconstitutional impeachment of a former president, that some of the protesters planned to invade the Capitol before Trump addressed his supporters and that Trump’s conviction would set a precedent that could severely restrict political speech in the future.
“In addition to the fact that this process is completely unconstitutional … this is a very, very dangerous path to follow in relation to the First Amendment, putting at risk any passionate political speaker, who is against everything we believe in this country,” he said. Schoen. said.
Trump’s second Senate impeachment trial will begin on February 9. Ten House Republicans joined Democrats in that chamber to accuse Trump of inciting a crowd.
In his January 6 speech, Trump repeated his unproven statements about the election being stolen from him through widespread fraud and asked his supporters to march on Capitol Hill to protest the official vote counting of the Electoral College that was taking place there. inside.
Protesters then stormed the Capitol building, killing a police officer and sending lawmakers, including the former vice president Mike Pence
Michael (Mike) Richard PenceCongressional Democrats are on the wrong side of impeachment policy. Did Trump know what was going to happen on January 6? Kaine thinks next week to file a censorship in order to bar Trump from the future office MORE, to hide.
Trump tweeted angrily at Pence while the siege took place. Late in the afternoon, when the extent of the chaos became apparent, Trump called for calm while also praising his supporters for fighting for him.
Schoen said on Monday that Trump “condemned violence at all times”.
“Read the words of your speech. It requires peace, ”he said.
Democrats believe they have a compelling case to present that draws a direct line from Trump’s words at the rally to the actions of his supporters, who believed that Democrats were illegally stealing the now ex-president’s White House.
Democrats also plan to show violent videos of the siege at the trial.
Schoen on Monday called the trial unfair, arguing that Democrats are just trying to stop Trump from running for office again.
“We also know that the agenda of Pelosi and others is simply to prevent President Trump from running for president again, and that is the most undemocratic you can get, a slap in the face for the 75 million people who voted for Donald Trump,” he said. Schoen.
“I would say that you should also not be able to call many of the senators as witnesses because of the terrible prejudice and prejudice they have shown,” he added. “Can you imagine any American citizen considered in a trial in which the judge and the jury have publicly announced that the defendant must be convicted in a case? … It is clear to them that Donald Trump undermined democracy. How can we have a fair trial? “
Trump is expected to be acquitted, as 17 Senate Republicans would be needed to join all 50 Democrats in the vote to condemn him. Last week, 45 Senate Republicans voted to reject the trial on the grounds that it is unconstitutional to impeach a former president.