Donald Trump faces a trial next week
Credit: AFP
Donald Trump endangered the lives of all members of Congress when he aimed a mob of supporters "like a loaded cannon" at the US Capitol, Democrats said on Tuesday.
Democrats made their most detailed case yet for why the former president should be convicted and permanently barred from office.
Their legal brief forcefully links Mr Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election to the deadly Jan 6 riot at the Capitol, saying he bears "unmistakable" blame for actions that directly threatened the underpinnings of American democracy.
It argues that he must be found guilty when his impeachment trial opens before the Senate next week on a charge of inciting the siege.
"His conduct endangered the life of every single Member of Congress, jeopardized the peaceful transition of power and line of succession, and compromised our national security," the Democratic managers of the impeachment case wrote. "This is precisely the sort of constitutional offense that warrants disqualification from federal office."
It not only explicitly faults Mr Trump for his role in the riot but also aims to preemptively rebut defense claims that his words were protected by the First Amendment, or that an impeachment trial is unconstitutional now that he has left office.
It says Mr Trump’s behavior was so egregious as to require permanent disqualification from office.
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