It's on. Day 3. The Trial of Donald Trump 2.0 continues at 12:04 p.m. on February 11, 2021

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Rep. Raskin invited Colorado Congresswoman @RepDianaDeGette to talk about how the mob believed they were following President Trump's orders.

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DeGette begins with her own experience under attack. Here's what she saw when she left the chambers. She looked at the mob and thought "Who sent them here?"

Her response. Donald Trump sent them there.

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"The president told the to be there, so they thought there would be no punishment."

She disputes that the intruders acted for their own reason. Wrong, they said they came there because the president instructed them to do so.

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The insurrectionists came at his invitation. And when there the crowd followed his words that he spoke at the rally and chanted them as they breached the building.

Trump led the crowd in a "Stop the Steal" chant. @RepDianaDeGette showed a video from the crowd

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Now, chilling video of the crowd shouting "Fight for Trump".

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In addition, chatter on Parler and other social media spoke of civil war.

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The mob chanted "stop the steal" at the capitol as they broke in. And they also chanted "fight for Trump" there. Same crowd that watched and listened to him at speech earlier that day

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They said they were following Trump's orders when they were at the Capitol. She showed examples, including the insurrectionist in the building shouting at police that they were there because Trump sent them there.

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Even when he went on television finally asking them to go home, one of the supporters indignantly said "President Trump called us to siege the place."

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His supporters said they were "fighting for Trump," and said they should call him on the phone as he would be happy they had sieged the Capitol.

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They only went home after Trump at 4:17 finally asked them to go. But they saw it was a victory and he was happy for them

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Many those arrested were surprised as they believed they would be immune from president as Trump had told them to be there. This man (Sanford) threw a fire extinguisher. A witness told them that he went to the Capitol because of Trump.

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Sanford's lawyer said he was there because Trump told them to go to the capitol. He was not the only one.

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Jenna Ryan, Texas Real Estate agent was arrested and said she was only doing what Trump told her to do. "I thought i was following my president" He asked us to fly there. "We were going in solidarity with President Trump."
He told us to be there on Jan. 6. She said for war

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And another person said Trump told them "I need my digital soldiers to show up on January 6".

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Trump at a debate told the Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by" and they took it as a call to arms. Goodwyn used Trump's face as his profile photo. and used the stand back stand by language saying it was orders from commander in chief

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Another rioter said he was part of a group following the presidents orders. And his lawyer now says that he felt duped by the president and regrets what the president asked him to do. Said he was "there at the invitation of our President to come to the Capitol."

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Lawyer for the woman charged with stealing Pelosi's laptop said she regrets following Trump's bait and went inside the Capitol

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And Samuel Fisher said "Trump just needs to fire the bat signal . . deputize patriots . . and then the pain comes."

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Lawyer for another insurrectionists said his client to capitol because "he invited us down." Lawyer asked "who lit the fuse."

DeGette said Trump lit the fuse.

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"We were invited here. We were invited. We were invited here" a member of the crowd shouted over the noisy crowd to the officers, "We were invited by the President of the United States".

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Now @RepRaskin is back at the mic. There's a delay.

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Raskin said DeGette showed insurrectionists believed they were following the President's marching orders, in alignment with his instructions and strategy to retain power.

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The insurrection did not spring into thin air. Trump spent months cultivating extremist groups and riled them up for their most dangerous mission.

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He knew this because he had seen these same groups engage in violence, and he had seen how his words electrified them and made them violence.

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"These tactics were road tested." –– @RepRaskin

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People inside and outside government asked him to condemn extremism he refused to do it. Warned about threat of white supremacists wanted race war. He praised political violence over the years even on campaign,

Several clips when his words successfully incited violence.

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"Knock the hell" out of protesters and he said he pay their legal fees. Told them to get more violent and the dragged someone across the floor. On and on.

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He also praised a supporter who assaulted a protester. He also praised Gianforte who assaulted a reporter for the Guardian, Ben Jacobs

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In Charlottesville the neo-Nazis invaded the city and shouted "Jews will not replace us." And yet he said "there was blame on both sides" and he said "there were very fine people on both sides."

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Trump thought his incitement on January 6 was "totally appropriate". Also said man at rally during 2016 election campaign who was assaulted was "appropriate"

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When Trump told his supporters to "fight like hell" he literally meant for them to do that, to fight violently to "stop the steal" at the capitol.

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Invading the Michigan state capitol on April 30, 2020 in Lansing was the dry run for January. The mob members shouted "Heil, Hitler" and "Lock her up" about Governor Whitmer after Trump verbally attacked her regularly on Twitter and then told them to "Liberate Michigan"

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Raskin called the armed siege in Lansing, Michigan as a dress rehearsal. So was Trump's reaction. He did not condemn. Instead he pressured the victim of the attack and praised the violent men who threatened her life

He called them very good people and told Whitmer to negotiate them. Then, emboldened by his praised, these rioters escalated.

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Two weeks later, they stormed Michigan capitol again, and had a doll on a noose. But still, Trump continued to whip up the crowd against Whitmer in September

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Then a group of men were arrested with a conspiracy to storm the capitol in Michigan again, kidnap and kill Governor Whitmer

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They planned to use bullets and kill. But, what did Trump do to respond?

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Even after kidnapping conspiracy revealed to the public, that very night, instead of condemning the violence. He did not criticize the extremists. He did not check on her safety. And he attacked her again and tried to take credit for foiling plot and demand she thank him

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After that, he got crowd in Muskeegon, Michigan to chant "lock her up." He used crowd that had been violent before and claimed election was stolen to help incite insurrectionary violence.

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So very chilling. In Lansing on he said his words had provoked them.

Laughed about "just a little nod" to the crowd makes them violent

Presided over crowd chanting "lock her up"

"I'm the one. It was our people who helped her out with her problem." Never condemned

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"If we don't draw the line here, what's next?" I agree with Jamie here. Why do we think this violence is over?

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Raskin said, these examples, show Trump's "unavoidable knowledge of the consequences of his incitement and the clear foreseeability of the violent harm he unleashed on our people and our republic."

"This was his state of mind. This was his M.O."

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Trump knew his most violent supporters would direct violence and we are in danger if he is ever elected again.

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Excellent work.

Now it's @tedlieu at the lectern. "This was a president who showed no remorse and took no accountability" for his words and actions on January 6th. He thought they were "totally appropriate."

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Lieu said Trump's actions were wrong, destructive and un-American.

Lack of remorse shows state of mind. We have to hold him accountable to send message that it's never patriotic to incite a violent attack against our nation's capitol and to let future presidents know this.

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Only many hours later did Trump condemn the rioters. But even in that video he made more lies. National Gurad was not deployed until around 3 pm but did not arrive until after 5 pm. And Trump did not send them there. He was no on the list of people consulted.

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He told them on the video they were only just beginning.

Took three days before he lowered the flag after police officer was murdered. And he did not visit him when he lay in state in the very office he was defending.

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Some people say he made a mistake and should get "a Mulligan", but he is not even remorseful.

He thinks his conduct was "totally appropriate."

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"Trump was not showing remorse, he was showing defiance." –– @tedlieu

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One week after attack, Trump released another video.
He made statement claiming "I unequivocally condemn the violence." He had to say that but did not really mean it.

He never acknowledge his role in stirring up violence. And he did not say, "the election was not stolen."

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If he really meant it, he would have be vocal and repetitive.

He is still trying to extract revenge on the House Republicans who voted for his impeachment.

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People in his own party have called his behavior wrong and shameful. Shows video of several republican officials including governors. Charlie Baker of MA said Trump stoked the fires of outrage and left the US Capitol nearly defenseless and comments after were disgraceful

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Mike DeWine, governor of Ohio, said Trump's speech fanned the flames. And others including Phil Scott Gov. of Vermont: "one of the darkest chapters of our nation's history."

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Jim Mattis

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Former chief of staff John Kelly said what happened at Capitol "was a direct result of him poisoning the minds of pepole with the lies and the fraud."

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And former speaker of the House . . .even Mick Mulvaney. Lieu shows long list of people on video from news interviews.

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Lieu said even people inside the Trump administration were outraged. There was an immediate flood of resignations. Sixteen officials resigned in protest, just days before end of presidency.

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These insiders clear link between the president's conduct and the violent insurrection, Devos called it an "inflection point". Costello called it a "breaking point" an a "wake-up call". Chao said should could not set aside what he did.

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Fred Upton said "it's time to say Enough is Enough."

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Trump would have all Americans believe that any president that would come after him could do same thing. That's why remorse is so important. He will cause future harm if allowed.

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Brilliant point. Ted Lieu said he's not afraid Trump will run in four years and win. He's afraid he will lose and do this again.

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Video showing Republican members of congress condemning Trump's actions. Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, John Katko

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Raskin just told us that DeGette will come back to talk about how the insurrectionists were emboldened by the January 6th siege of the Capitol and planned to come back to attack the inauguration.

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"Donald Trump incited a violent insurrection." And he failed to protect Congress staff and capitol.

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She is focusing how Trump's conduct embolden and escalated domestic violent extremists. Law enforcement call them DVEs

Trump's own FBI identified as some of the most dangerous elements of our society

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Trump addressed his supporters on a video 30 hours after their violence by saying, "Our incredible journey is only just beginning" he said on January 7th

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These groups believe that their violence at Trump's directions is patriotic.

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Credible threats rose after January 6th that they would return on January 19th to get revenge.

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According to a joint intelligence bulletin from Jan. 13, the primary motivating factor is the shared false narrative of a stolen election. Don't want transfer of power and believe the only solution to their problems is violence.

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Postings on extremist websites promised/threatened violence. "We took the building once and we can take it again."

Others were waiting on Trump's instructions on what to do next.

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Several arrested with weapons in DC. One guy who participated in capitol attack. He planned to come
to the capitol and said "there's going to be blood running out of that building" and he would plant a flag on Pelosi's and Schumer's desk.

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Oh, Lord. This is new to me. On May of 2020 he had said "the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat and Trump retweeted him saying it. He also posed at Oval Office with Trump and he was arrested on Jan. 6th and planned to come back.

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At least 21 states activated national guard after Jan. 6

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The cost is tremendous. Nearly half a Billion dollars to keep National Guard in DC due to attack on Jan. 6

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And it's "not just dollars and cents". Capitol is now a fortress. We no longer have access to our representatives. "Dimming our all of our freedom."

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According to FBI, Trump's assemblage of his mob is dangerous as in-person engagement of DVEs fostered connections that could increase capability and motivation to attack and undermine government they believe is illegitimate.

Remember DVE means domestic violent extremist

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Rick Fuentes reveled in violence and said what else can
you do but kill them, then tried to walk it back

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They boasted on social media. Bugaloo Boys and Proud Boys are inspired by January 6

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Their perceived success means more ability to recruit and target minority groups.

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Bottom line is that Trump helped further unite and embolden DVEs

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The insurrectionists included many racist and anti-semitic people including this holocaust denier in the hateful Camp Auschwitz shirt

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Real trauma for the black officers listening to the racist hateful language directed at them

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Excellent from DeGette. This must be the last time Trump is given a platform to inspire prejudiced hateful violence.

"We simply cannot sweep this under the rug. We must take a united stand, all of us, that this is not American."

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"We will act so this never happens again" after paying tribute to Heather Heyer and her mother

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Now Cicilline will discuss the harm to Congress and the constitutional processes.

Since the War of 1812, this has been the most violent, bloody attack on the capitol.

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The first three in line for succession to the presidency were under attack. Rioters chanted "hang Mike Pence." The rioters said they would kill Pence and Pelosi if they found them.

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Rioters were caught on tape saying they would have shot Pelosi "in the friggin' brain" if they found her.

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Also caught were rioters who planned to lock the government officials in the basement and turn on the gas to kill them

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"His true North Star is not America's wellbeing." His priority is "Trump first, no matter the cost" to our Democracy.

We can never allow the kind of violent attack that occurred on January 6th to ever happen again.

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"We had built this powder keg" and I was furious.

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Crowe said like fighting in combat. Pat Fallon said it was surreal as it was unfolding. Commended bravery and courage of fellow members. Doors and furniture was all that kept them out. But some reps stepped in and broke off poles and turned them upside down ready to fight

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Kildee called his wife and felt like it was "one of those calls you hear about." In other words he was not sure he'd survive

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Staff in the capitol experienced trauma. Many young twenty year olds working for congresspeople and senators, others dedicated food and service works.

Cicilline is showing pictures and playing audio. "Building breached. That is two words I never heard."

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"I did not know if they were right outside." He knew there were shots fired outside the House chambers. Didn't know how many people. Was getting texts from people asking if he was okay.

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One staffer was so upset that she quit her job. Another said he heard glass break.Last thing he remembers before he walked off the floor was police officers had their guns trained on the door

Got to top of stairs and then heard some one say, "they're right behind us. Run!"

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"The sound of window panes popping. I won't forget that sound.

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A reporter for CNN, Kristin Wilson, tweeted about her experience.

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The janitorial staff were also terrified. "I honestly fear for my life. I've got to children at home."

For black and brown staff it was even more painful. Heard racial slurs and watched confederate flag paraded through, had to clean up feces smeared on wall, broken glass

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And, as this transpired during the pandemic, many were infected by the virus.

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Three law enforcement officers lost their lives.

Sicknick, Liebengood, and Smith all served to protect and defend.

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Severe injuries to capitol police officers. Some injuries that will be with them the rest of their lives. Includes brain injuries, smashed spinal disc, lost eye, lost tip of finger.

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Officers who had done tours of Iraq said this was scarier than their time in combat.

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Also verbally assaulted them.

The Trump mob said "fuck you." And they work for us

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Called them f'ing traitors. Someone shouted "1776 bitch."

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"You have to wonder. To whom are the rioters sworn to?"

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The mental toll has been significant. Racist violence. Called the N-word repeatedly.

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The Trump mob also damaged the Capitol building itself. They had little respect for this place, @davidcicilline.

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Here's an image of the Capitol building and also the trashed office of the Senate Parlimentarian

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I think he said a statute of John Lewis was damaged, and that a photo was stolen, but not sure.

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The headline in many newspapers the day after the Biden Inauguration said "Democracy has prevailed." (This from the @FT)

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Cicilline said, Trump was using his violent mob to try to become king. First time in our history that a sitting president incited his supporters to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. What if he had been successful?

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Really hoping for a recess now.

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Good the Senate will stand in recess for 15 minutes.

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We are back from the break. Joaquin Castro starts out by discussing the damage to our national security and standing in the world.

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He mentions the woman who I literally stole Nancy Pelosi‘s computer with a plan to sell it to Russian intelligence.

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Taking documents from leader McConnell‘s desk, taking photographs of papers on members of Congress desks.

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That last tweet refers to a bunch of people, not just Riley.

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Intelligence officials now need to determine what was taken. And now, we have exposed a huge vulnerability for foreign enemies who would love to attack the Capitol

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The message our adversaries took. Some saw this as the failure of Western democracy. Another example is China calling us hypocritical in denouncing Beijing's crackdown on Hong Kong while having things out of control in DC

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Castro quoted Rep. Gallagher "Call it off Mr. President, we need you to call this off" as other nations are mocking us.

Also Russia used this to declare that Democracy is over

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Iran mocked us as well. Castro called these statements "serious and pervasive."

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Castro added that "even our allies are speaking up." He read a statement from the Prime Minister of Canada. And Germany said accountability is needed

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"We must stand up for the rule of law, because the rule of law does not just stand up by itself" –– @JoaquinCastrotx

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Castro said this trial is our opportunity to respond and send a message back to the world. He added that there is a lot of courage in this room.

Some have stood up for civil rights, risks their lives in service to this country in uniform.

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Trump failed to take any action to defend us. He utterly failed in his duty to preserve, protect, and defend.

Will the rule of law prevail over mob rule?

This will have consequences for our diplomats.

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Failing to convict him would be to forfeit our role as a North Star for human rights and rule of law.

"Let us remain the world that we are truly their North Star."

(Also including this screenshot as MSNBC added a helpful quote)

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Together with Raskin, @RepJoeNeguse will address the First Amendment defense the president will offer to excuse his conduct.

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Neguse said, according to President Trump, everything we showed you that he did was perfectly okay for him to do and for a future president to do again and the constitution in their view forbids you from doing anything to stop it. That can't be right.

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Their argument is meant as a distraction. They have an alternative set of facts, Neguse said. Their alternative facts is that Trump just gave a speech.

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Neguse quoted letter from 150 constitutional law scholars who said, "The First Amendment is no bar to the Senate convicting former President Trump and disqualifying him from future office"

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Excellent work here. Neguse is saying they will do anything to avoid talking about the facts of this case. And they will insist "with indignation" that the First Amendment will protect all of this as if it's the same. "But, we trust you to know the difference."

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"President Trump wasn't just some guy with political opinions who showed up a rally and delivered controversial remarks." He was the president of the United States who used his bully pulpit to cultivate and incite his followers and send them armed and violent to capitol.

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"He struck a match and he aimed it straight at this building."

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"No president can do what President Trump did." This is not about politics. It's his decision to incite an insurrection. It would be dangerous for the US Senate to conclude otherwise.

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Don't send message that this is a constitutionally protected way to act when you lose an election.

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Trump's lawyers are not arguing that it's okay to incite a mob to violence. Instead they are presenting a radically different fictional version of events, he is protected by First Amendment.

Their argument is advanced to defend a situation that did not occur

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Neguse handed the topic over to @RepRaskin. Called this First Amendment defense as a smoke screen.

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Raskin accuses Trump of trying to pull off an election fraud by lying and claiming the states had committed fraud.

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For Trump up is down and down is up, Raskin points out and provides examples.

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Say a president publicly on a daily basis advocated replacing Constitution with a totalitarian form of government and swear oath of personally loyalty to foreign government.

If an ordinary person did, the First Amendment protects them.

But, a president is different.

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Trump used the bully pulpit (power, prestige, and privilege) for his own ambition, corruption and lust for power.

This is common sense.

If a teacher advocates totalitarianism at work, they can be fired. Everybody knows that.

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We know this. Government workers are fired lawfully just based on what they said. Happens all the time, even in Trump administration when he fired people.

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Raskin quoted the late Justice Scalia who said, "You can't ride with the cops and root for the robbers."

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Nothing in the Constitution can excuse his betrayal of his oath of office. It's not a First Amendment question.

He was not just another ordinary guy at the rally.

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"The vast majority of American people reject the seditious mob violence that we saw" on January 6th.

Even if you are an ordinary guy at rally, it is unlawful to incite a riot. The First Amendment does not protect you.

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Correction: It was 144 constitutional scholars who signed the letter, not 150 (which is what I said before).

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Raskin makes clear that the Brandenberg standard (about inciting imminent violence not protecting speech) does not even apply to him in this context.

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Constitutional oath of president includes duty to take care that our laws are upheld.

"He betrayed us.

Raskin quoted @RepLizCheney. This is "the greatest betrayal of a presidential oath in the history of the United States of America."

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Jamie revisited metaphor from Day 1. Referring to Brandenberg, this is not someone shouting fire in a crowded theater.

Instead, Raskin says this is a fire chief who sends the mob to burn down the fire house.

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Sorry, missed some of what he said as one of the dogs is growling loudly in my office

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Okay, I'm back. Sparky (the 16 year old Lhasa Apso) is sitting on my lap as I type.

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Trump trying to use violence to usurp the will of people and overturn Biden's victory. Sought to nullify the political rights and sovereignty of the American people, to deliberate, to vote and decide who our president will be.

That's an attack on free speech

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The precedent Trump will ask the Senate to create is dangerous. No First Amendment excuse or defense or immunity.

"He incited insurrection against our government. He must be convicted."

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Next @tedlieu will counter Trump's claim that he was denied process in this impeachment process.

"His due process claims are without merit."

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The House has power to decide its own rules as to how it wanted to pass article of impeachment. No legal requirement to have hearings. The House debated and passed the article on a bipartisan basis.

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House had reason to move quickly. It was an exigent circumstance. Trump was still in office as the House approved the article. There was danger of more violence and there still is.

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Also, Lieu said the House did not deliberately delay transmission of the Article of Impeachment. The Senate was not in session at the time. The House was told if the clerk of the House tried to deliver the article they would have been turned back at the door.

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After the defense presents, the Senators can ask questions. The president is receiving all the process he is due right in this chamber.

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Raskin is about to invite Neguse up to describe what they have shown.

Said Trump has committed an impeachable offense. There is no greater or dangerous offense against the republic than inciting insurrection against the government.

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Raskin says I hope we can all agree that a president does incite a violent insurrection against the government he can be impeached for it.

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Also, Raskin said conviction for impeachment is not a crime. No criminal penalty. No fines or jail.

Impeachment is separate and distinct from criminal punishment. Designed to prevent and deter

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"What is impeachable conduct if not this. . . If you think this is not impeachable, what is? What would be?"

If Senate acquits Trump then any president could incite insurrectionist violence.

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Incitement is an intensive fact-based judgment. We believe we have shown you overwhelming evidence that this was indeed incitement. He encourage violence, it was foreseeable, and he acted willfully in encouraging violence.

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I feel like crying. His managers stayed up night after night to compile this evidence to put before these Senators, and yet, some of the Republicans are skipping out on listening.

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The House Managers are near the end of presenting their case. Next up is Neguse to explain to the Senators what the team has shown.

He thanks the Senators

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Neguse says I hope we can all agree that if a president incites insurrectionist violence against our government, he must be convicted.

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Neguse is going to remind Senators that the answer to the following questions are yes based on evidence shown in past days. If yes, then this is incitement

Was the violence foreseeable?
Did Trump encourage the violence? (did Neguse say this?)
Did Trump act willfully?

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Neguse is reprising Trump's efforts to pressure states and federal government to overturn the election results

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I just realized why I'm feeling sick to my stomach. This all reminds me of the Brett Kavanaugh hearing. The Republicans are going to do to all of us what they did to her. They are going to give Trump a pass like they did Kavanaugh. The truth does not matter to them.

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Neguse shows the many tweets and speeches of Trump repeating the big lie, claiming he won the election when Biden actually did.

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Neguse reminds us Trump verbally attacked others and encouraged violence. Reminds us Trump spent $50 million to encourage people to "stop the steal" and he joined forces with the same group that was violent at the Million MAGA march in December

And FBI said it was a threat

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Trump didn't call for peace. Instead he spread his big lie that the election was being stolen and "final act of theft" would take place when congress counted votes on Jan. 6. He planned event to coincide with the vote count he wanted them to stop. He knew they were armed

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He knew they would jump to violence at any sign from him.

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Second question after forseeability is did he encourage the violence?

Just remember what he said on that day he said it was "stolen form you, from me and from the country." And "you don't concede when theft is involved . . . we will stop the steal."

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He presided over the "Fight for Trump" chant and said "thank you."

"You have to get your people to fight because you will never take your country back with weakness. . and we fight like hell . . or you're not going to have a country anymore."

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"Fight like hell" was not metaphorical or rhetorical. He meant it, Neguse said.

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During the riot, Trump's own party members told him to call it off. They all knew he was the only person who call it off as he was the one who caused the insurrection.

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Final question of the three. Did the president act willfully when he encouraged violence.

Yes. He aimed the armed angry crowd to the capitol and told them to fight like hell and that's exactly what he did. And his conduct the rest of the day shows that he acted willfully.

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Neguse asks us to remember speech from 4:17 pm when Trump said the election stolen from us. He was still inflaming violence, spreading the Big Lie, and praising the rioters who were trying to stop the vote count. He cared more about overturning election than saving lives.

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When Trump wanted to stop things he did so quickly, but not on January 6. He never condemned the attack, never condemned the attackers, and never said he was sending help. Instead he issued messages siding with insurrectionists who had left police officers battered

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He reacted as someone would who was delighted, not someone who was angry.

If he had reacted the way a president was supposed to act very different results

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