Opinion: Witnesses for Trump Senate Trial? Hell Yes!
Lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin sent a letter to Trump’s attorney Thursday requesting that Trump testify before or during the upcoming impeachment trial, which begins on Tuesday, arguing that his testimony was needed after he disputed the House’s allegations that he incited the insurrection at the Capitol.
“Two days ago, you filed an Answer in which you denied many factual allegations set forth in the article of impeachment,” Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, wrote. “You have thus attempted to put critical facts at issue notwithstanding the clear and overwhelming evidence of your constitutional offense. In light of your disputing these factual allegations, I write to invite you to provide testimony under oath, either before or during the Senate impeachment trial, concerning your conduct on January 6, 2021.”
It was not immediately clear how Trump will respond to the request or whether he would consider testifying.
Read: House impeachment managers request former President Donald Trump testify at trial
Here is the most important part of the article:
The question of whether the House managers would seek witnesses had been looming over the start of next week’s trial, as senators in both parties have been urging a speedy trial so the Senate can move on and work on President Joe Biden’s agenda. But the House managers and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had remained quiet on the question of witnesses until Thursday’s letter.
Do it. Just. Do. It. Please call witnesses. Please do. That will give both Donald Trump and possibly Mitch McConnell (albeit not the best of buddies right now) some huge opportunities and possibly even some leverage. Of course given McConnell’s retreat to his usual safe space of Failure Theater, I’m not sanguine about his exercising any leverage he might gain. But let’s explore some of President Trump’s possibilities.
First of all, as the Defendant in this trial, Donald Trump through his legal mouthpieces, can call and if necessary, require subpoenas for witnesses he deems necessary for his defense. This gives his attorneys a very wide latitude to describe President Trump’s words and actions. Most importantly, it allows him to shape the conversation as to his thinking about how the election was handled in several critical states and how that drove his speeches, especially the one on the plaza.
What does this mean? It gives him another public bite at the election fraud issue. This time, with even more information that has become public. Calling witness after witness will drag this out, while keeping the election fraud issue front and center.
The ability to call witnesses can be used against many of his tormentors. Put VPOTUS Harris on the stand. Ask her if she has ever encouraged rioting. Call Pelosi to the stand. Ask her to explain her comments on ANTIFA/BLM riots. Put the President Pro Tem, Patrick Leahy who is acting as “Judge” for this proceeding travesty of justice. Put him on the stand to account for his own words that essentially show he’s already decided that President Trump is guilty.
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