Also shown during the trial is a clip of the Utah government, Spencer Cox, saying Trump should be held accountable.
{Susan Walsh | AP photo) Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, left, and Senator Cory Booker, DN.J., right, walk on Capitol Hill, Washington, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, before the start of the third day of the second indictment trial against former president Donald Trump.
Utah Senator Mike Lee took an unusual step on Thursday for a senator who was essentially a juror in the second impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump: He met Trump’s legal team before presenting his case on Friday.
“Yes, it is true,” a Lee spokesperson confirmed. “He met them because they invited him. He would also like to talk to the house managers. “
National news media reported that Lee, along with Senator Lindsey Graham, RS.C., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, met with Trump’s attorneys Thursday afternoon after Democratic House managers reassured their case.
They discussed “how this format goes, you know, the question-and-answer period, all that,” Schoen said. ‘And then talk about where they come from and all that, but it’s just a lot of fun. I told them it was a great honor to talk to them. “
Graham was seen leaving the meeting telling reporters, “See you tomorrow.”
During the impeachment process, senators are expected to be impartial jurors, listening to the evidence from both sides before voting on whether or not to convict.
However, in Trump’s initial impeachment, then-majority leader Mitch McConnell set a precedent of deliberation with the defense.
Another Utah facet of the impeachment process took place Thursday when Democrats prosecuting Donald Trump’s second indictment used a video clip from Utah’s Republican government, Spencer Cox, on Thursday to make their case that even key Republicans say the former president should be held accountable.
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., Showed clips of five Republican governors denouncing Trump’s actions leading to the January 6 riot at the Capitol.
“People should be held accountable, and yes, that includes the president,” Cox said in a clip shown to the Senate.
It came from a Jan. 11 interview that Cox gave on “Good Morning America,” and only a small portion of it was shown.
In other parts of that interview, Cox then said of Trump, “I certainly think it would be good for the nation if he were willing to resign. I doubt that will happen. “
When Cox was asked in that interview if he would vote to impeach Trump, he said, “Well, I should look at all the evidence, but I would very much consider it. I can tell you that now. But I don’t have any. vote. “
Del. Stacy Plaskett, D-Virgin Islands, one of the house managers prosecuting former President Donald Trump, told the moment before senators.
‘You can see in these security images [Capitol Police] Officer [Eugene] Goodman runs off to respond to the first breach, ”she says. Agent Goodman passes Senator Mitt Romney and orders him to turn to get to safety.
Romney turns and then runs to escape the crowd.
Romney, of course, is one of the most recognizable members of Congress as the 2012 GOP nominee for president – and is someone the crowd likely despised as the only Republican to vote to condemn Trump in his initial impeachment. If the crowd found him, it could have been a disaster for Romney.
Romney later said, “I am very grateful to Officer Eugene Goodman for his courage, and I am grateful to all the officers and agents who, through their heroic actions, have prevented a tragic situation from becoming more horrific.”
Utah was also mentioned on Thursday during a discussion of persistent online threats from Trump supporters – even after the January 6 riots – that prompted states to increase security around their capitals ahead of President Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
House impeachment manager Diana DeGette, D-Colo., Said Utah spent $ 585,000 mobilizing National Guard troops and Highway Patrol troopers for such endeavors, and that was included in a chart shown to senators on how much was spent through six states.