Trump impeachment trial live updates: Biden says charge 'not in dispute' in 1st comments on acquittal

Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., in focusing his arguments on the harm inflicted inside Capitol walls on Jan. 6, noted the terror aimed particularly toward people of color at the complex.

"For many of the Black and brown staff, the trauma was made worse by the many painful symbols of hate that were on full display that day. Insurrectionists waved Confederate flags and hurled the most disgusting racial slurs at dedicated Capitol workers," he said.

"Then after all that, these same workers -- many of them people of color -- were forced to clean up the mess left by mobs of white nationalists," Cicilline continued.

He recalled how one member of the Capitol janitorial staff reflected on "how terrible he felt when he had to clean up feces that had been smeared on the wall, blood of a rioter who had died, broken glass, other objects, strewn all over the floor. He said, 'I felt bad. I felt degraded.'"

A mural paying tribute to civil rights icon, the late Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., was "shamefully destroyed," Cicilline said, and "only a broken piece of the memorial was found on the ground next to a trash can," he said.

Quoting an article from Buzzfeed, Cicilline recalled two Black police officers saying they were called racial slurs repeatedly as they fought off white nationalists on Jan. 6.

"Is this America? What is your answer to that question? Is this OK? If not, what are we going to do about it? These people matter. These people risked their lives for us. So I ask you respectfully to consider them -- the police officers, the staff of this building -- when you cast your vote," Cicilline said.

The Senate is taking a short break before continuing with arguments from the House impeachment managers.

Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., focused his arguments on the impact the Jan. 6 attack had on Capitol Hill lawmakers -- including the senators in the chamber who are acting as jurors in Trump's trial.

"I'd like to now turn to the harm that this has caused -- here in these walls as a result of the conduct on Jan. 6," Cicilline said. "Never did any of us imagine that we or our colleagues would face mortal peril by a mob riled up by the president of the United States -- the leader of the free world. But we did. All because Donald Trump could not accept his election defeat."

Cicilline played news reports of lawmakers describing the terror and trauma they suffered in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack -- and also quoted reporters, Capitol Hill staffers and employees who said they feared for their lives.

"Many members wondered if they'd see their family again. As the rioters reached the Capitol, they were outnumbered, trapped inside. They were calling loved ones to say good-bye," he said.

Cicilline also noted how the attack happened in the middle of a global pandemic but said social distancing was "impossible as we were hiding for our lives in cramped quarters for long periods of time."

House impeachment manager Rep. Diana DeGette argued that Trump's supporters still represent a threat, adding that threats of violence during the inauguration were prevented by the increased security posture.

"In fact, after news broke of law enforcement's preparedness for further attacks, leaders of the Proud Boys, the Three Percenters militia, the organizers of the Million MAGA March, they all now told their followers to avoid protests up to or leading up to the inauguration for fear that law enforcement would crush them and arrest rioters who showed up," DeGette said. "Thank God there wasn't an insurrection sequel here on January 20th."

DeGette insisted that this impeachment should not be to "punish" Trump, but to prevent further violence from his supporters.

"Impeachment is not to punish but to prevent. We are not here to punish Donald Trump. We are here to prevent the seeds of hatred that he planted from bearing any more fruit. As my colleague showed, this was not the first time that President Trump inspired violence, but it must be the last time that he's given a platform to do so. This must be our wake-up call. We must condemn it," DeGette said. "Because the threat is not over."