Video: The Second Trump Impeachment Trial, Day 1

By Colorado Public Radio Staff and The Associated Press

· Feb. 9, 2021, 6:21 am

Updated 4:04 p.m.

Senators in Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial have agreed to consider the case. The vote was 56-44 on the question of whether the Senate has jurisdiction and could proceed.

Trump’s trial has opened in the Senate with graphic video of the deadly Jan. 6 attack on Congress after the defeated former president whipped up a rally crowd to "fight like hell” as he encourages a futile battle over his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump is charged by the House with inciting the violent mob attack to overturn the election.

What You Need To Know About The Senate Impeachment Trial (via NPR.org)

Prosecutors argue Trump committed a “grievous constitutional crime," but his defense team insists his fiery words at the rally were just figures of speech. His lawyers said that trying a former president is unconstitutional.

The trial did open with four hours of debate on whether the trial is constitutional now that Trump is no longer in office. After that, prosecutors and Trump’s defense team will have up to 16 hours each to make their arguments. While Trump’s acquittal is expected, Democrats say the trial is necessary to hold Trump accountable.

Two Democratic members of Colorado's congressional delegation are front and center for Trump's second Senate trial. Reps. Diana DeGette and Joe Neguse will serve as impeachment managers to argue the case against the former president. During the first impeachment trial of Trump, Rep. Jason Crow served as one of the nine impeachment managers.

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