Impeachment trial – live: Trump poured ‘kerosene on the flames’ as Pence family fled for lives, Democrats say

Donald Trump’s niece Mary Trump made her opinion clear when it comes to whether the former president should be convicted in his second impeachment trial. 

Retweeting a tweet that simply said “convict him,” she added: “This shouldn't even be in question, but we need to keep saying it until it happens.”

The House of Representatives impeachment managers have responded to the Trump legal team's filing in response to the article of impeachment against the former president.

In the response, the managers deny "each and every allegation in the Answer that denies the acts, knowledge, intent, or wrongful conduct charged against President Trump".

Read the response here (PDF).

In conclusion, the House managers write:

The evidence of President Trump’s conduct is overwhelming. He has no valid excuse or defense for his actions. And his efforts to escape accountability are entirely unavailing.

As charged in the Article of Impeachment, President Trump violated his Oath of Office and betrayed the American people. His incitement of insurrection against the United States government — which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power — is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a President. There must be no doubt that such conduct is categorically unacceptable. The House will establish at trial that President Trump merits conviction and disqualification to hold and enjoy an office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.

Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama announced on Monday he won't be seeking re-election in 2022, the fourth Republican senator to do so recently.

“I am grateful to the people of Alabama who have put their trust in me for more than forty years," Mr Shelby, who was first elected in 1986, wrote in a statement. "I have been fortunate to serve in the U.S. Senate longer than any other Alabamian." 

Josh Marcus reports.

Read the Trump legal team's full Trial Memorandum as filed by Bruce Castor, David Schoen, and Michael van der Veen (PDF).

Brian Kalt, a professor of presidential history and constitutional law, says that the Trump legal team is misrepresenting what he wrote in an article in favour of late impeachment.

Professor Kalt says that while he set out evidence on both sides of the debate, the briefing filed today at one point suggests he endorsed an argument when in fact he rejected it. Mr Kalt says there are "multiple examples of such flat-out misrepresentations".

He notes that the House managers' brief also cites his article, but does so honestly.

Press secretary Jen Psaki says: "It’s a big story. But our focus is on the American Rescue Plan" when asked about the impeachment of former president Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden has said that Donald Trump left the coronavirus situation in the United States “more dire than we had thought” in his first network interview as president. 

During the interview with CBS’s Norah O’Donnell, Mr Biden said the country had been set back in its fight against coronavirus due to the former administration.

He explained that the position the country found itself in amid the pandemic was "even more dire than we thought” when the Biden administration took over on 20 January.

"We thought they had indicated there was a lot more vaccine available. And [that] didn't turn out to be the case. So that's why we've ramped up every way we can," he said.

Louise Hall reports.

It’s 2021, so of course Trump’s ex-lawyer and longtime confidant is interviewing the former president's ex-mistress for a new episode of his podcast. 

Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to eight counts of criminal tax evasion and campaign finance violations after representing Donald Trump throughout his 2016 campaign, interviewed adult film actress Stormy Daniels for the latest episode of Mea Culpa. 

“Both of our stories will be forever linked with Donald Trump, but also with one another," says Mr Cohen. "Thanks for giving me a second chance."

Chris Riotta reports.

(Yes, that's a typo in the second paragraph)

Writer E Jean Carroll, who is currently pursuing a defamation case against Donald Trump, has tweeted praise for her attorney Joshua Matz who is serving as impeachment counsel for the House. Mr Matz is on leave from the firm Kaplan, Hecker & Fink, who represent Ms Carroll.

Ms Carroll is suing Mr Trump for defamation after he accused her of lying when she revealed that he allegedly raped her in the fitting of a New York department store in the late 1990s.