Former President Donald Trump is on trial before lawmakers in the Senate on charges of inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
His trial is currently taking place in the Senate, which will determine whether Trump is guilty or acquitted of the charges against him. The U.S. Senate voted in favor of a law regulating the rules for Trump's trial. The prosecution team in the Senate began its case by presenting photographic evidence implicating Trump in inciting violence. The lead prosecutor stated that Trump sent his lawyer in an attempt to prevent the Senate from holding the trial before the evidence was presented, emphasizing that Trump's trial aims to protect Americans from presidents who seek to replace the authority of the people and sovereignty with mob rule. The lead prosecutor argued that if the Capitol breach is not an impeachable offense, then nothing would warrant impeachment.
In turn, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff confirmed that Trump is responsible for the most dangerous attack on our democracy in American history. Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the House voted to activate the legal provision for Trump's impeachment regarding the accusation of "inciting rebellion," which included allegations that Trump made false claims about election fraud and encouraged his supporters to storm the Capitol on January 6.
Last month, Trump became the first president in U.S. history to be charged with misconduct and was twice subjected to attempts to activate impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives. This moment is considered unprecedented in U.S. history, as no president has ever faced impeachment proceedings after leaving office.
The trial in the Senate is a political matter, not a criminal one, and a vote at the end of the trial will determine whether Trump is guilty of the charges against him. A two-thirds majority of the 100-member Senate must support a conviction for Trump to be convicted. If convicted, Senate members can also vote to prevent him from holding the presidency again.
The trial commenced on Tuesday, February 9, with a four-hour discussion on whether Trump's impeachment procedures are unconstitutional since he is no longer president. Following this discussion, Senate members will vote on the issue. As of noon on Wednesday, February 10, each side (the prosecution and defense) will be granted 16 hours to present their arguments. There will also be an option to request discussion and a vote on whether to call witnesses. The Senate plans to pause trial proceedings from Friday evening to Saturday evening due to the Jewish Sabbath.
It is unclear how long these proceedings will last, but Democrats are seeking a swift trial as they are eager to focus on the legislative agenda of Democratic President Joe Biden, who aims to pass COVID-19 relief measures as soon as possible.
