Live updates: Trump attorneys call Senate trial over deadly Capitol riot a ‘brazen political act’ by Democrats
Trump lawyers denounce ‘political theater’ of impeachment as Senate eyes quick trial
By Mike DeBonis and Tom Hamburger
Lawyers for Trump on Monday assailed congressional Democrats for what they said was trying to “silence a political opponent and a minority party” through impeachment, a day before Trump is set to stand trial in the Senate on a charge that he incited the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol invasion.
The 78-page filing is the most complete legal defense of Trump’s conduct to date, and it relies heavily on a challenge to the constitutionality of impeaching a former president, as well as a First Amendment defense of Trump’s rhetoric leading up to the riot — which sought to disrupt the final congressional confirmation of Trump’s loss.
But, mindful that they need only convince 34 Republican senators to secure an acquittal, Trump’s lawyers also cast their defense in a political light — calling the rapid impeachment effort the culmination of a long Democratic campaign to marginalize Trump.
