House Democratic impeachment managers opened the final day of arguments in their case against President Trump by offering a rebuttal of the president’s defense that will begin on Saturday.
Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat and an impeachment manager, opened the floor by arguing Trump released critical security aid to Ukraine because he “got caught” blocking it from delivery.
“It wasn’t lifted for any legitimate reason,” Crow, a former Army Ranger and war veteran, told senators.
Democrats will conclude their third and final day arguing Trump should be convicted on two impeachment articles charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Trump’s defense team will begin arguing its case in defense of the president on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, announced.
Crow used the time Friday to respond in advance to Trump’s defense lawyers, because, he said, Democrats won’t be provided time later to offer a rebuttal.
Crow told senators Trump’s team would “ignore significant portions of the evidence while trying to cherry-pick here and there” from other information.
Crow first argued against Trump’s defense team’s likely claim of “no harm no foul,” from Trump’s decision to temporarily block the aid, which was released after 55 days on Sept. 11, 2019.
“The fact that the hold became public sent a very clear signal to Russia, that our support for Ukraine was wavering,” Crow said. “The damage was done.”
Democrats control the floor for about seven more hours.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, took over after Crow, opening the arguments on the obstruction of Congress charge.
“President Trump tried to cheat, he got caught, and then he worked hard to cover it up,” Jeffries said.
