Legal briefs to be filed in Trump’s Senate impeachment trial


The Senate impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump over his role in last month’s Capitol riot will pick up its pace later Tuesday as his lawyers and the House impeachment managers are scheduled to file their first legal briefs outlining their strategies.

The documents from House prosecutors led by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Trump’s legal team could shed light on who they plan to call as witnesses and their strategy on why Trump should be convicted despite no longer being in the White House.

The trial is expected to begin next Tuesday.

One of Trump’s lawyers, David Schoen, gave a preview of their line of defense during an interview with Drumpe’ Sean Hannity on Monday. 

Schoen said he believes “this process is completely unconstitutional and it is a very, very dangerous road to take with respect to the First Amendment, putting at risk any passionate political speaker which is really against everything we believe in this country.”

US Capitol Police lock a gate at the outer security perimeter around the US Capitol in Washington, DC on February 2, 2021
US Capitol Police lock a gate at the outer security perimeter around the US Capitol in Washington, DC on February 2, 2021
EPA/SHAWN THEW

“I think it’s also the most ill-advised legislative action that I’ve seen in my lifetime,” Schoen continued. “It is tearing the country apart at a time when we don’t need anything like that.”

He noted that Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) will preside over the trial instead of Chief Justice John Roberts as an indication that Democrats have already decided on a verdict.

“Can you imagine any American citizen considering it to be a trial in which the judge and jury has already announced publicly that the defendant must be convicted in this case?” Schoen asked.

Impeachment managers deliver an article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump.
Impeachment managers deliver an article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump.
Melina Mara via REUTERS

“And in fact, Senator Leahy called on, demanded that Senator McConnell vote for a conviction … how can we possibly have a fair trial? Chuck Schumer, Senator Schumer, promised a fair and full trial. You can’t, when you know that the jurors and the judge are biased going in,” he continued.

The House voted on Jan. 13 to impeach Trump on a charge of “incitement of an insurrection” because of his comments about the election leading up to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is the Senate Majority Leader.
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is the Senate Majority Leader.
REUTERS/Al Drago

Ten Republicans, including Rep. Liz Cheney, the third-ranking Republican in the House, voted with all Democrats to impeach Trump.

Last week, 45 Republican senators voted to support a measure introduced by Sen. Rand Paul that the impeachment trial was unconstitutional.

It was the second time that the House voted to impeach Trump.

He was acquitted by the Senate last February for his telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds a news conference with Capitol Hill reporters.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds a news conference with Capitol Hill reporters.
REUTERS/Tom Brenner

With Post wires

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