Impeachment trial 2, day 1: Now the Republicans are the party of terrorism [View all]

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Impeachment trial 2, day 1: Now the Republicans are the party of terrorism
Trump is officially gone, but his specter hangs over Washington — and Republicans are still shackled to him

By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
FEBRUARY 10, 2021 11:00AM


(Salon) Tuesday was the first day of Donald Trump's impeachment trial for inciting insurrection and a lethal attack on the Capitol as part of a larger coup attempt.

The public evidence of Trump's guilt is overwhelming and conclusive. His conviction by the Senate should be a fait accompli.

The Democratic House managers' presentation of the case against Donald Trump was devastating. His attorneys were rendered impotent in response — yet they tried as hard as they could to create an alternate universe.

Trump's lawyers presented a reality-denying, dangerous, craven and absurd defense, in which they claimed that to follow the Constitution and the rule of law by convicting the former president for insurrection would lead to a second civil war. On Twitter, the bestselling writer Don Winslow aptly summarized the underlying logic of Trump's defense: "We should not prosecute murderers because to do so might upset their family."

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In voting to acquit Donald Trump for encouraging political violence and insurrection, with the evident goal of nullifying the 2020 presidential election and overthrowing democracy, Republicans in Congress are formally announcing their endorsement of right-wing terrorism as a legitimate means of gaining and securing political power. .........(more)

https://www.salon.com/2021/02/10/impeachment-trial-2-day-1-now-the-republicans-are-the-party-of-terrorism/