Trump news: Impeachment defence lawyer says ‘idiotic’ to mention election as Gaetz offers to join case
Follow the latest updates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.House Democrats have laid out their impeachment case against Donald Trump in a comprehensive memorandum accusing him of inciting the failed insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January that left five people dead.
The 80-page document provides a roadmap for their prosecution of the former president when his Senate impeachment trial kicks off on 9 February. “If provoking an insurrectionary riot against a Joint Session of Congress after losing an election is not an impeachable offence, it is hard to imagine what would be,” they argue.
As Mr Trump’s lawyers issued their own 14-page, typo-riddled response objecting to the trial as “unconstitutional”, more than 370 congressional aides signed a letter calling on senators to convict the ex-president for placing them in harm’s way.
Mr Trump’s lead impeachment attorney meanwhile says that it would be “idiotic” and “insane” to dispute the result of the 2020 election as part of their defence strategy.
- Donald Trump impeachment timeline - what to expect
- Trump impeachment with be unprecedented and ugly
- ‘The craziest thing about Donald Trump’s impeachment defence is that it will probably work’
Twitter is still just as Trump-y without Trump
Petty insults, wild conspiracy theories, cold-blooded partisan hatred—it’s like Donald Trump never left Twitter!
There’s Nancy Pelosi dissing House minority leader Kevin McCarthy as a “cowardly” rep from “Q-CA,” for his decision not to punish the QAnon supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene for her history of inflammatory comments.
There’s Ms Greene herself, spreading, as she is wont to do, conspiracy theories about her political opponents, such accusing representative Ilhan Omar of marrying her brother, a popular and evidence-free right wing talking point.
Mr Trump, who was permanently banned from Twitter in January following the attack on the Capitol, may be gone, but his spirit is not forgotten.
America arms up after Capitol riots
As Washington prepares for former president Trump’s second impeachment, Americans prepared for…well…something and bought more than 2m guns in January, breaking records.
Both the Capitol riot and the start of Joe Biden's presidency are thought to have contributed to the spike. Mr Biden promised to tighten gun control legislation during the campaign.
Gustaf Kilander has more.
Record gun sales in January after Capitol insurrection
Violent effort to overturn election result and start of Biden presidency both thought to have contributed to spike
AOC hits back at Republican claims she lied about Capitol assault
The former president isn’t the only one arguing about the finer points of what happened during the 6 January attack on the Capitol.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has hit back at claims she lied about her experience during the riots, taking to Twitter to blast “implicated” Republicans for suggesting that she had exaggerated what she went through during the attack.
Graeme Massie’s got that one.
AOC hits back at claims she lied about Capitol assault ordeal
Critics say lawmaker was in her Cannon House office and not Capitol Building during violence
Five key players to watch as impeachment unfolds
With a closely divided Senate, impeachment might seem dead on arrival, but, as US political correspondent Griffin Connolly writes, “there is half-a-degree less certainty about the outcome of the second Trump impeachment trial than the first one.” Here are the five difference-makers to keep your eyes on.
Five key players to watch as Trump impeachment trial unfolds
Where GOP Leader Mitch McConnell goes, others will follow, writes US political correspondent Griffin Connolly
Justice department mulls using Mafia prosecution laws against Capitol rioters
As former president Trump prepares his impeachment defense, the Justice Department is considering whether members of far-right groups involved in the storming of the Capitol on 6 January can be charged under federal laws usually used against people involved in organised crime.
Reuters cites two law enforcement sources as saying the DOJ is mulling use of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (RICO), which enables prosecutors to combat certain ongoing racketeering crimes such as murder, kidnapping, bribery and money laundering.
Oliver O’Connell has more.
Justice department mulls using Mafia prosecution laws against Capitol rioters, says report
The Justice Department is considering whether members of far-right groups involved in the storming of the Capitol on 6 January can be charged under federal laws usually used against people involved in organised crime.
The impeachment is already having consequences for Liz Cheney
The impeachment votes haven’t even started yet, but one top Republican is already being punished: not Donald Trump, but Liz Cheney.
Andrew Buncombe’s got this in-depth look at how the political powerhouse is facing the consequences for being one of just 10 Republicans in the House who backed the impeachment effort.
Why is Liz Cheney fighting for her political life?
Daughter of ex-VP may be political powerhouse, writes Andrew Buncombe, but she crossed Donald Trump
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments