Impeachment trial – live: Trump poured ‘kerosene on the flames’ as Pence family fled for lives, Democrats say
Follow latest developments at the Trump impeachment trial
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.The mob was just "58 steps away" as Congress members fled, hid, or put on gas moments before the mob poured through the hallways of the Senate and House chambers.
Day two of Donald Trump's impeachment heard how close Mike Pence was to being "executed" and Nancy Pelosi came to being "murdered" before they were evacuated from the Capitol building to a safe location.
Never before seen security footage showed Republicans and Democrats alike running for their lives, with Mitt Romney and Chuck Schumer shown on camera fleeing through corridors to find a safe place to hide.
Julian Castro said Trump "left them for dead" as Trump's provocations of a "stolen election" added fuel to the fire of the riots.
House managers began the second day the impeachment trial with Donald Trump's own words as they showed tweet after tweet and played video after video of the ex-president's messaging to supporters that threw "kerosene on the flames".
Democrats Madeline Dean, Ted Lieu, Jamie Raskin, Eric Swalwell and Stacey Plaskett walked Senators through a forensic retelling of the timeline to show how Trump actively "helped plan" the march on the Capitol.
The trial heard the Proud Boys followed Trump's calls to "stand back and stand by" while videos from the Save America Rally showed supporters yelling "invade the Capitol".
Dean broke down in tears as she remembered the moment rioters banged on the House chamber door: "For the first time in more than 200 years, the seat of our government was ransacked on our watch.”
The trial is adjourned until Thursday.
Key stories:
Watch: Trump declared ‘inciter in chief’
Mob searched to ‘kill’ Pence and ‘hang’ Pelosi, trial hears
Joe Neguse is presenting Department of Justice affidavits showing what some of the rioters said on video: “We were looking for Nancy to shoot her in the friggin’ brain but we didn’t find her,” one said.
Trump’s Capitol speech ‘not rhetorical’, says impeachment prosecution
“It was not rhetorical, some of his supporters have been primed for this over many months,” says Joe Neguse.
He pointed to this portion of Trump’s speech: “We will not let them silence your voices, we’re not going to let it happen. Not going to let it happen.”
The crowd responded in the chant: “Fight for Trump.”
Trump continued: “You have to get your people to fight… We fight. And we fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Raskin makes the argument against the free speech defence
“This case is much worse than someone who falsely shouts fire in a crowded theatre. It's more like like a case where the town fire chief, who's paid to put out fires, sends a mob not to yell fire in a crowded theatre, but to actually set the theatre on fire."
Prosecution: Provocation > Attack > Harm
This is the road map the prosecution is laying out in its case for incitement to insurrection.
BREAKING: Trump declared ‘inciter in chief’ at impeachment trial as Democrats vow evidence shows he’s no ‘bystander’
Donald Trump has been declared an "inciter-in-chief", as Democrats at his impeachment trial vowed to show evidence proving he was "no bystander".
Andrew Buncombe will follow this story for more updates.
Trump declared ‘inciter in chief’ at impeachment trial as Democrats vow evidence shows he’s no ‘bystander’
Donald Trump has been declared an "inciter-in-chief", as Democrats at his impeachment trial vowed to show evidence proving he was "no bystander".
Portion’s of Trump’s speech used as more evidence
Jamie Raskin highlighted Trump telling his supporters the have to fight. Trump’s defence will continue to highlight how Raskin has selectively edited the speech to cut off the former president telling them to do so “peacefully and patriotically”.
“He told them to fight like hell, and they brought us hell that day,” Raskin says.
Trump’s tweets being used against him
Raskin is using the former president’s own words in their case of incitement to violence.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments