House Democrats argued on Wednesday that former President Donald Trump provoked the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and continued to encourage angry protesters throughout the siege.
“We will show during the course of this trial that this attack was provoked by the president, incited by the president,” Rep. Joe Neguse, a Colorado Democrat and one of nine House impeachment managers, told senators during the second day of Trump’s impeachment trial.
Lawmakers gathered in the Senate chamber to hear up to 16 hours of evidence that Democrats will present in their effort to convict Trump, who was impeached on Jan. 13 on one article charging him with inciting an insurrection.
Democrats plan to introduce new video evidence following a gripping montage they played on Tuesday that mixed footage of the violent mob attack on the Capitol with Trump’s words calling on his supporters to fight against an allegedly stolen election.
“This mob was well orchestrated. Their conduct was intentional,” Neguse said. “They did it all in plain sight, proudly, openly, and loudly, because they truly believed that they were doing this for him — that this was their patriotic duty.”
Democrats made the case that Trump was not simply a bystander but an active participant and a leader who provoked the mob, beginning with his “stop the steal” campaign following the November election and ending with the Jan. 6 protest rally.
“The president had every reason to know that this would happen because he assembled the mob, he summoned the mob, and he incited the mob,” Neguse said.
Senior Democratic aides associated with the impeachment team said they expect the managers to finish their presentation without using all 16 hours.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager and a Maryland Democrat, opened by promising a “comprehensive and meticulous presentation that will lead to one powerful and irresistible conclusion: Donald Trump committed a massive crime against our Constitution and our people and the worst violation of the presidential oath of office in the history of the United States of America.”
Raskin during his presentation warned the television viewing audience that the contents of the new footage may not be suitable for everyone.
“We do urge parents and teachers to exercise caution about what young people are watching,” Raskin said.
