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Donald Trump's Historic Impeachment Begins With Damning Video From Capitol Riots

Donald Trump's Historic Impeachment Begins With Damning Video From Capitol Riots

The Senate has been shown Trump telling his supporters to 'fight like hell' and some of the worst scenes from the Capitol.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial is underway in the Senate and Democrats have wasted no time in presenting their evidence.

They have showed a video of the then-US President giving a speech to a bevy of MAGA-supporters on January 6 and telling them to 'fight like hell' because if they don't then 'you're not going to have a country anymore'.

The trial has also been presented a video of scenes from the Capitol insurrection that day, including a police officer shooting through a House door that killed a protestor, a different officer being dragged down the steps by the mob, and others rubbing their eyes from the tear gas in the air.

PA

Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin is leading the prosecution of the case against Trump in the upper chamber of Congress and he didn't mince his words in his opening statement.

"You ask what a high crime and misdemeanour is under our Constitution," he said. "That's a high crime and misdemeanour.

"If that's not an impeachable offence, then there's no such thing.

"The transition of power is always the most dangerous moment for democracies. Every historian will tell you that. We just saw it in the most astonishing way. We lived through it.

Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin.
PA

"And you know what, the framers of our constitution knew it. That's why they created a constitution with an oath written into it that binds the president from his very first day in office until his very last day in office and every day in between."

Trump has been accused of inciting the insurrection at the Capitol which resulted in five deaths.

According to CNN, the trial will start with a four-hour debate on the constitutionality of the proceeding followed by a vote at a simple majority threshold to affirm the proceedings' constitutionality.

Trump's lawyers will be attempting to convince the Senate that he is not guilty of inciting mob violence ahead of the riots in a bid to overturn the US election.

PA

They will base their defence on two main issues: that it's unconstitutional to try a former president and his speech should be protected under the First Amendment.

The former President said his comments at that rally before the riots were 'totally appropriate'.

It is believed that Trump has declined a request to testify but he will be the first president to face charged after leaving office and the first to be impeached twice.

The trial began with a prayer after the nine House impeachment managers tasked with arguing the Democrats' case against Trump.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump