Impeachment trial – live: Trump poured ‘kerosene on the flames’ as Pence family fled for lives, Democrats say
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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:
QAnon ‘Shaman’ will get organic food in prison system known for unhealthy meals
The US Capitol rioter, whose real name is Jacob Chansley, is receiving organic food while he awaits trial for his role in the 6 January violence after a federal judge ruled in his favour.
"The fact that this man is given this kind of preference shows the double standard in the criminal justice system, and in the detention system," said civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton.
New Black Lives Matter ad calls for end to white supremacy released on eve of Trump impeachment trial
The advert uses footage of the 6 January attack on the Capitol and historic Ku Klux Klan rallies to pressure senators to convict the ex-president at his trial.
The ad comes as the senate prepares for a historic second trial of Mr Trump for inciting the violence on Tuesday.
BLM activists blame Mr Trump for inciting his supporters to attack the Capitol and for emboldening white supremacists with his rhetoric and actions.
Trump lawyer removes request to postpone trial to observe Jewish Sabbath
David Schoen wrote to Senate leaders telling them he no longer required them to pause the trial so he could observe Shabbat on Friday evening and Saturday.
Mr Schoen said in a letter that he would not participate on the Sabbath but that his role would be covered by Mr Trump's defence team and the trial should carry on without him.
OANN parent company ordered to pay Rachel Maddow and MSNBC $250k over failed defamation case
The parent company of the One America News Network, the far-right channel which has peddled conspiracy theories about voter fraud, has been ordered to pay MSNBC and one of its most high profile hosts Rachel Maddow $250,000 in legal fees for a failed defamation lawsuit.
Herring Networks accused Maddow in 2019 of defaming OAN because she brought up a story concerning an OAN reporter also contributing content to Sputnik, the Russian state news agency.
Gustaf Kilander has more.
OANN parent company ordered to pay Rachel Maddow and MSNBC $250k
Herring Networks wanted $10m in damages after Maddow said that OAN was 'paid Russian propaganda'
Five House Republicans will defend Trump on TV
Representatives Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz, Elise Stefanik, Mike Johnson and Lee Zeldin will all work as Donald Trump's rapid-reaction team during his impeachment trial, according to Bloomberg News.
Trump administration tried to suppress Covid-19 testing, new emails show
A new trove of emails from congressional investigators shows how Trump appointees pressured scientists tackling the coronavirus to back unproven treatments and limit testing guidelines, as the House of Representatives presses on with its oversight investigation.
The House has been conducting an oversight investigation of the Trump administration's pandemic response since last April, and its latest round of disclosures suggest a “persistent pattern of political interference in the nation’s public health response,” chairman James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, wrote in a statement.
Josh Marcus has the details.
Trump administration tried to limit Covid-19 testing, new emails show
Congress has been investigating the pandemic response since April
Georgia officials open investigation into Trump’s attempt to overturn election results in state
The Georgia Secretary of State has officially opened an investigation into Donald Trump's attempts to overturn his election loss to Joe Biden there.
The investigation comes after the former president was recorded on a phone call to Brad Raffensperger pressuring him to "find" enough votes to reverse his defeat.
More below.
Investigation opened into Trump’s attempt to overturn Georgia election results
Ex-president asked Brad Raffensperger on taped call to help him 'find' votes to beat Joe Biden
Trump’s lawyers to cite Gateway Pundit conspiracy that ‘anti-Trump’ rioters actually stormed the Capitol
Donald Trump's lawyers will reportedly use claims from the Gateway Pundit in their impeachment defence that allege "anti-Trump" groups were the primary perpetrators of the Capitol insurrection.
Mr Trump's impeachment brief attempts to argue that the Capitol rioters entered the building "of their own accord" and that some were actually anti-Trump, rather than the pro-Trump mob that has been widely reported and well known pro-Trump figures identified.
Graig Graziosi has the story.
Trump’s lawyers to cite Gateway Pundit conspiracy that ‘anti-Trump’ rioters actually stormed the Capitol
Twitter recently banned Gateway Pundit's founder for violating its "civic integrity policy"
Could Trump be evicted from Mar-a-Lago as his impeachment trial opens?
At 9.30am on Tuesday morning, the town council of Palm Beach, Florida convenes for its regular meeting to discuss ordinances, planning and other municipal business.
Buried away in the agenda under “new business” is a presentation by town attorney John Randolph on the declaration of use agreement between the town and theMar-a-Lago Club — namely, can former president Donald Trump live there full time.
Oliver O'Connell has more.
Could Trump be evicted from Mar-a-Lago as his impeachment trial opens?
Palm Beach's town council will discuss whether former president can live at Mar-a-Lago
Here’s what we know about Trump’s impeachment defence strategy
The build-up to Donald Trump's second impeachment trial has not gone well for the former president. Aside from losing several members of his legal team, he also faces the prospect that former die-hard supporters who invaded the US Capitol on 6 January may testify against him themselves.
So what kind of defence is he planning?
Andrew Naughtie has more details.
Here’s what we know about Trump’s impeachment defence strategy
The first president to be impeached twice is facing a very different challenge his second time around
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