‘Convict Trump or it could happen again,’ trial told

'Convict Trump or it could happen again,' trial told
Trump's supporters stormed Capitol building. Source: GETTY IMAGES
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Daily US Times: Democrats have concluded their arguments that former president Donald Trump incited the 6 January Capitol riot, warning “he can do this again” if the Senate fails to convict him.

On Thursday, impeachment prosecutors used rioters’ own words to link Mr Trump to the violence while arguing the riot had caused long-term harm as well.

Democrats also presented accounts from staff, police, intelligence officials and foreign media to pursue their case.

Mr Trump’s defence team will present their arguments on Friday.

Last month, the Democratic-led House of Representatives impeached Mr Trump, accusing him of inciting the riot. Lawmakers from the House have been presenting their case to senators this week.

Mr Trump’s lawyers have argued that he was using his right to freedom of speech when declaring last November’s presidential election fraudulent.

A two-thirds Senate majority is required to convict Mr Trump in the evenly split 100-seat Senate, but an acquittal looks likely as the vast majority of Republican senators have remained loyal to him so far.

If Mr Trump is convicted, the Senate could also vote to bar him from holding elected office again.

The violent riot at the Capitol building, which saw five people lose their lives, was an attempt by Trump supporters to stop the election result being certified.

The trial was shown new footage on Wednesday of the violence Mr Trump is accused of inciting. Democrats sought to detail how the former president sparked the attack on the Capitol and took senators step-by-step through the events of 6 January.

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