In just minutes, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) demolished the Trump legal team's argument that the Senate trial is un-Constitutional:
"The transition of power is always the most dangerous moment for democracies. Every historian will tell you that. We just saw it in the most astonishing way. We lived through it. And you know what, the framers of our Constitution knew it. That's why they created a Constitution with an oath written into it that binds the president from his very first day in office until his very last day in office and every day in between."
"Under that Constitution, and under that oath, the president of the United States is forbidden to commit high crimes and misdemeanors at any point he is in office. Indeed, that's one specific reason impeachment, conviction and disqualification powers exist, to protect us against presidents who try to overrun the power of the people in their elections and replace the rule of law with the rule of mobs. These powers must apply even if the president commits his offenses in his final weeks in office. In fact, that's precisely when we need them the most, because that's when elections get attacked." (our emphasis)
However, the emotional peak of Rep. Raskin's presentation came as he wrapped up the initial presentations by recounting the day of the riot, when his daughter and son-in-law were with him:
"And when they were finally rescued, over an hour later by Capitol officers, and we were together, I hugged them and I apologized and I told my daughter Tabitha — who's 24 and a brilliant algebra teacher in Teach for America now — I told her how sorry I was, and I promised her that it would not be like this again the next time she came back to the Capitol with me," Raskin said.
"And you know what she said? she said, "Dad, I don't want to come back to the Capitol," he added.
Reps. Joe Neguse (D-CO) and David Cicciline (D-RI) were extremely effective in knocking down precedent and jurisdiction arguments that Trump's lawyers are expected to advance.
Tomorrow's presentation of evidence and arguments should be one for the ages, if the brief introductory video that Raskin showed is a sample. Look for paper trails back to the Trump campaign and White House staff, among other "surprises" in what will be a gripping 16 hours.
UPDATE: Here's the harrowing video played at the impeachment demonstrating the connection between Trump and the insurrectionists:
(photo: Rep. Raskin recounts personal moments during Trump insurrection. Shutterstock)
