Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders clashed with one of the defenders of former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial on Friday after asking if President Biden had won the 2020 election.
Sanders asked in a written note submitted during the questioning period of Trump’s trial, “Are the prosecutors right in claiming that Trump told a ‘big lie’ or in your opinion did Trump actually win the election?”
Trump lawyer Michael van der Veen asked incredulously: ‘My verdict? Who asked that? “
“I did!” shouted Sanders, who lost the 2020 Democratic primaries to Biden.
‘My opinion is irrelevant in this procedure. Absolutely, ”said Van der Veen, while Sanders bellowed an answer across the Senate floor.
According to press reporters in the room, Sanders called back to van der Veen: “No, it isn’t!” and, “You represent the President of the United States!”
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Who is chairing the trial, interrupted the screaming match.
The Senate will be okay. Senators under the rules cannot dispute the content of the response, ”said Leahy.
In his response, Van der Veen did not address the validity of the election results.
“In my opinion it is irrelevant to the question posed to this body. What is pertinent in this impeachment article is, “Were Mr. Trump’s words inciting to the point of violence and insurrection?” ”, Says Van der Veen.
Trump’s defense team spent much of Friday arguing that Democrats are basing a faint-hearted case on baseless reports of Trump’s behavior, even after the initial break-in on Jan. 6.
Van der Veen also said Democrats routinely object to certification of election results. “When Mr. Trump was elected president, we were told it had been hijacked,” he said.
Democratic impeachment managers argued the violence that killed four rioters and Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick was the culmination of a month-long campaign by Trump to undermine election results and organize a gang that could intimidate Congress by winning Biden. to certify.
A vote in the lawsuit is expected on Saturday. Democrats must win over 17 Republicans to condemn Trump and ban him from re-serving. They are expected to stay well below the threshold after winning just six GOP votes Tuesday on whether the process is constitutional because Trump is no longer in office.