Almost a month after Donald Trump became the first US president to be impeached twice, the second impeachment trial is all set to begin on Tuesday in United States Senate at 1 pm (US Time). The House of Representatives impeached Trump on January 13, just one week before he was slated to leave the office. Here’s everything you need to know about the trial.
What are the charges against Donald Trump?
The former US president is accused of encouraging a riot with false claims of a stolen election that eventually led to a mob storming the US capitol – the seat of the US Congress, killing five people and hundreds injured. He allegedly tried to incite the supporters with a speech on Jan 6 asking them “peacefully and patriotically” to make their voices heard but also “fight like hell” against the mandate that has been stolen from them.
What will happen in Senate tomorrow?
The House of Representatives voted 232-197 to approve a single article of impeachment on January 13 which was formally sent to the Senate for the trial to commence.
Now the trial is all set to take place in Senate on Tuesday with a four-hour debate on whether the proceedings are unconstitutional because Trump is no longer president followed by a vote on this issue.
If that vote fails, around noon, both sides will be given 16 hours to make their arguments.
Post arguments, a vote will be held at the end of the trial to determine whether Trump is guilty of the charge. If convicted, Senators could have another vote to bar him from running for the elected office again.
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Who all are involved in the trial?
As Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who presided over the first impeachment trial of Trump, won’t be able to do so again, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy will preside over the second impeachment trial of Trump.
Nine Democratic members of Congress, who will be acting as impeachment managers, will prosecute the case against Donald Trump.
On the other hand, after abruptly parting ways with prior counsel, Donald Trump has named lawyers David Schoen and Bruce Castor as the head of defense effort in the trial.
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What is Donald Trump’s defense?
Donald Trump’s lawyers in a brief filed on Monday have argued that the trial is unconstitutional, that Trump did not incite the insurrection, and that rioters acted out of their own will.
What would it take to convict Donald Trump?
Both Republicans and Democrats hold 50-50 seats in the Senate. As the two-thirds majority of the 100-member Senate is needed to back a verdict, Democrats will need at least 17 Republicans to vote against Donald Trump.
What is the significance of this trial?
If Trump is convicted, apart from the symbolic value, Trump will also be barred from running for elected office again
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