Despite the horrific scene of the congressional riots promoted by former US President Donald Trump, the Republican Senate still weighs on the possibility of his innocence, US media including CNN reported on the 11th (local time).
The House’s impeachment prosecution panel focused on the fact that Trump’s speech on the day of the riot led to the invasion of Congress through the Senate’s impeachment proceedings that began on the 9th.
The day before, lawmakers unveiled new videos, photos, and transcripts showing the immediate situation that could be threatened by the mob, and engaged in an all-out war to persuade the Republican Senate along with public opinion.
The newly released data included the invasion of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a 950,000-volt electric shock bomber, the installation of a gallows aimed at the vice president of Mike Pence, who proceeded with the peaceful transfer of power, and the scenes of members urgently evacuating.
However, CNN said, “Republican senators are sending signals that they will make Trump innocent even in the subsequent video release.” “Even after witnessing a lively scene of violence, it doesn’t seem like they have come any closer to convicting Trump for inciting civil war.” He said.
Although Republican senators were shocked by the successive release of evidence by the impeachment prosecution panel, they believe Trump’s remarks have failed to prove that it led to the violence.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said, “I don’t believe the Capitol can be trampled so much,” but said his mind about the impeachment vote has not changed. Rather, he said, “I think there will be more votes for innocence than yesterday.”
Rep. Mike Brown said, “I think the conclusion is different because the procedure is flawed.”
Congressman Ted Cruz argued that there was no direct connection between Trump and the mob, as there were no American politicians who didn’t speak the same language as Trump told the protesters, “Fight to death.”
“While the prosecutors spent a lot of time focusing on the terrible violence of criminals, Trump’s language fell far short of legal standards for agitation,” he said.
Rep. Ron Johnson said, “Who is it?” when asked if he was shaken by the video released the day before. But when asked about the guilty vote against Trump, he said, “I’m holding those people (the mob) accountable.”
Senator Tim Scott said, “There will be five or six people (the Republican senator in favor of impeachment).”
In particular, CNN reported that some lawmakers compared the congressional riots to racial justice protests last summer, criticizing how the trial was handled at the time. It is a logic that the Democratic Party’s responsibility for encouraging the protests that had been transformed into violence at the time was held.
Considering these comments, the public opinion is that the possibility of Trump being impeached is not high.
The Republican Party requires at least 17 churn votes, but for now, only six people can be expected: Lisa Merkoski, Susan Collins, Pat Tumi, Van Sas, Mitt Romney, and Bill Cassidy. Cassidy, who voted that the former president’s impeachment proceedings were constitutional, said it had yet to decide.
President Romney, an advocate for Trump’s impeachment, also said “I can’t predict how they’ll react” to whether evidence could turn the hearts of Republicans.
The impeachment prosecution panel is expected to press the Republican senators by presenting various evidences on this day following the previous day. From the 12th, Trump’s lawyers will fight back for two days.
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