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

Donald Trump gave China an opening to create a false-equivalency between Hong Kongers protesting for democracy and violent insurrectionists trying to overthrow it, according to the House impeachment manager.

“Our adversaries are even using the events of January 6 not only to denigrate America, but to justify their own anti-Democratic behaviour, calling America hypocritical,” says Julian Castro.

“The spokesperson for China’s ministry of foreign affairs said the Capitol riots should spark, quote, ‘deep reflection among US lawmakers regarding how they discuss the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong’. Suggesting that the US is hypocritical in denouncing Beijing’s crackdown in the city while it struggles with its own unrest at home.”

At risk of offending Australians and their marsupial friends, herewith comments from senator Josh Hawley joining the ex-president’s Fox News cavalry:

“I think what we’re watching is a total kangaroo court. It is an illegitimate proceeding, it’s unconstitutional if you want to see the proof of that just look at what happened last night when senator Mike Lee pointed out that the House managers had blatantly misquoted him," Hawley said on Fox News.

“They are making this up as they go along. "It is totally unconstitutional and it is incredibly selfish on the part of the Democrats who are pursuing their own personal political vendettas here."

He added: “This is a total kangaroo trial.”

If the timing of Trump’s lawyer on Fox News during the impeachment hearing seemed conspicuous, it’s because it was reportedly ordered by the ex-president himself.

Trump was seemingly impatient there wasn’t enough pro-Trump television to watch, so he dispatched David Schoen to Fox News, according to White House correspondent Jennifer Jacobs.

There is no set timeline for the length of an impeachment trial, but there is good reason to believe that the impeachment will play out quickly, as both parties have reasons to aim for a short trial.

While it's hard to tell exactly how the proceedings will play out, allotments provide a skeleton structure and suggest if witnesses are not brought, the trial could be over by the start of next week.

The Independent's Louise Hall looks at how the trial could pan out over the coming days.

Democratic House impeachment managers shared footage of rioters during the insurrection on 6 January hurling abuse and threatening police officers protecting the Capitol and lawmakers.

"So much for backing the blue," impeachment manager David Cicilline told Senators during former president Donald Trump's impeachment trial for inciting a deadly assault in the halls of Congress.

Police officers heard chants of "traitor" and faced mobs chanting “fight for Trump” inside the Capitol building, captured in widely shared footage aired inside the Senate chamber on Wednesday during the third day of the trial.

"You have to wonder – who are these rioters sworn to?" Congressman Cicilline said, asking whether they believed police were loyal "to the people, the constitution, democracy, or Donald Trump."

The Independent's Alex Woodward is covering this angle.

The trial will continue in 15 minutes.

And here he is:

“This is what you get when you bring in a movie company and hire a large law firm to make a professional product that takes things out of context and presents as an entertainment package,” says David Schoen.

“This isn’t a blood sport, it’s not about entertainment, it’s about reporting the facts to the American people. So if you look at their sources for the information they would suggest is compelling they have such sources as reportedly, or sources, that’s part of the problem, the complete lack of due process, no investigation in this case, and no opportunity to test the evidence.”

Appearing on Fox News during Trump’s trial, defence lawyer David Schoen says the prosecution’s case is “offensive”.

Trump doesn’t want to be associated to the Capitol riot, Schoen says.

Lawyers for the ex-president are presenting their case to jurors in the Senate… viewers of Fox News.

This scene of David Schoen being interviewed as Ted Lieu speaks is via AP reporter Philip Crowther.

Nancy Pelosi's daughter has spoken out after hearing graphic audio recording of rioters hunting for her mother in the US Capitol after they broke in on 6 January.

"No, @GOP, I'm not 'moving on' from Trump's incitement to insurrection and his supporters' assassination attempt against the Speaker of the House. My Congresswoman. My mom. and most important – my children's beloved Mimi," Christine Pelosi wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

She added: "No unity without justice"

The Independent's Danielle Zoellner reports.