(CNN) – Prosecutors of the house’s impeachment will end Thursday arguing that former President Donald Trump had incited a rebellion. This will come a day after violent and disturbing video footage of the attack on the United States Capitol was shown urging senators to declare him guilty in the Senate trial.
Never-before-seen footage from Capitol security cameras forced senators to relive the heartbreaking attack and were confronted with chilling new details about the incredibly serious threat it posed to everyone on Capitol Hill, including lawmakers.
Several Republican senators made it clear on Wednesday evening that they were shocked by what they saw, yet noted that they will not change the way they plan to vote, as Trump appears to be heading for acquittal at the end of the impeachment process.
Indiana Republican Senator Mike Braun called the video ‘fascinating’, saying, ‘It’s so hard to accept every now and then.
When asked if Wednesday’s presentation will affect how he will vote, Braun replied, “No, because I think I’ve seen most of it,” adding, “I think it’s okay to review it, but I don’t know if that will make a difference to any senator just by seeing him again. ”
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa said, “It’s a little hard to describe” when referring to the videos shown in the Senate, calling them a “terrible situation.” But when asked if it would affect his voice, he said, “Listen, I have to weigh all the information.”
The charges against Trump in his second impeachment trial
In addition to broadcasting the video, prosecutors spent much of the first day arguing that Trump took part in a months-long campaign to lie to his supporters that the election had been stolen, sparking their anger over the false belief that the results were fraudulent. And she incited them to violently disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
“Donald Trump has committed a serious crime against our constitution and our people and the worst violation of the presidential oath of office,” said Representative Jamie Raskin, chief prosecutor on charges. “It must be condemned by the United States Senate.”
Once prosecutors finalize their presentation on Thursday, the former president’s legal team can begin their rebuttal.
Trump’s attorneys, Bruce Castor and David Schoen, have until 4 p.m. – for two days – to file a more detailed case against the impeachment charge starting Friday, although they are not expected to use it all along.
On Wednesday, Castor downplayed the video for the trial, saying House prosecutors did not link the agitators’ actions to the former president.
‘I haven’t seen anything I didn’t know. We know that a crowd came to the Capitol and destroyed the building. I’m waiting for them to put him in touch with President Trump and so far it hasn’t happened, ” Trump’s lawyer said.
When asked if he is concerned that the video will have an emotional impact on the jury, he said, “It would have an emotional impact on any jury. But there are two sides of the coin and we haven’t played ours.
Trump’s legal team has argued so far that House prosecutors ignore Trump’s comments on Jan. 6 that the protests should be peaceful, while claiming that his call for supporters to fight was a figurative political speech protected by the First Amendment.
After the Trump team is complete, the Senate has up to four hours to submit written questions to legal teams and then prosecutors. of the House of Representatives could ask for a vote to hear the witnesses. But it is not yet clear whether they intend to do so.
– CNN’s Ted Barrett contributed to this report.