Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., spoke Feb. 10 as House Democrats made their case for why the Senate should convict former President Donald Trump on a charge of inciting insurrection during the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump was impeached by the House in January, while he was still in office.
Raskin argued that Trump’s actions on Jan. 6 were an “abdication” of his role as president, and that his words were not protected by the First Amendment. He noted that a private citizen “undoubtedly” has the right to express their support for the “enemies of the United States” and the overthrow of the federal government, but argued that comparable rhetoric from a president is an impeachable “violation” of the oath of office.
“When [Trump] incited insurrection on January 6th, he broke that oath. He violated that duty. And that’s why we’re here today, and that’s why he has no credible Constitutional defense,” Raskin said on the Senate floor.
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