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

Biden remembered those who were killed and called for unity going forward.

Former President Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial ended with a 57-43 vote to acquit in the Senate. He faced a single charge of incitement of insurrection over his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.


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Lieu highlights Trump Cabinet departures following Capitol assault

House impeachment manager Rep. Ted Lieu played video clips of Republican figures denouncing Trump after the Capitol riot and highlighted the "flood of resignations from people inside President Trump's administration."

"His own officials felt so betrayed by his conduct that numerous officials resigned in protest days before the end of President Trump's term," Lieu said.

"They all took this dramatic action of resigning because they saw the clear link between President Trump's conduct and the violent insurrection," he added.


Lieu says Trump doesn't show remorse, only shows 'defiance'

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., asserted that Trump failed to show remorse for how his behavior incited the riots. Lieu cited Trump's failure pay his respects to U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick who died during the assault on the Capitol.

"President Trump not only failed to show remorse or take accountability, he made clear he is just beginning. For days, he did not address the nation after this attack. We needed our commander-in-chief to lead, to unite a grieving country, to comfort us. But what did President Trump do?," Lieu said. "Nothing, silence."

Lieu says that enhanced protection around the Capitol is necessary because Trump has not admitted that he lost the election. Lieu argued that his lack of remorse is important as Trump will 'undoubtedly' cause future harm.

"He does not say the one sentence that would stop future political violence, 'the election was not stolen.' He still hasn't said that sentence" Lieu said. "That is why National Guard troops in full body armor still patrol outside."


Raskin: 'If we don't draw the line here, what's next?'

Lead House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin suggested the senators do what Thomas Paine told us to do, "use our common sense."

"Trump knew exactly what he was doing in inciting the Jan. 6 mob. Exactly. He had just seen how easily his words and actions inspired violence in Michigan. He sent a clear message to his supporters. He encouraged planning and conspiracy to take over capitol buildings and threaten public officials who refuse to bow down to his political will," Raskin said. "Is there any chance Donald Trump was surprised by the result of his own incitement? Let's do what Thomas Paine told us to do, use our common sense. The sense we have in common -- as citizens. If we don't draw the line here, what's next? What makes you think the nightmare with Donald Trump and lawmaking and violent mob is over?"

"January 6th was not some unexpected, radical break from his normal law-abiding and peaceful disposition. This was his state of mind. This was his essential M.O.," he said.


Raskin said siege of Michigan capitol was a 'dress rehearsal' for Jan. 6

Lead House manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., cited the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as an earlier example of inciting his base.

Raskin asserted that the protest at the Michigan state capitol was a "dress rehearsal" for the Jan 6 riot.

"The siege of the Michigan State House was effectively a state-level dress rehearsal for the siege of the U.S. Capitol that Trump incited on January 6th," Raskin said. "It was a preview of the coming insurrection."

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif. began speaking after Raskin about Trump's lack of remorse.


House manager Raskin begins to lay out closing arguments

After the Senate decided it will not call any witnesses, lead House manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., was the first to speak during closing arguments. He reiterated the prosecution's case, calling for the conviction of Trump.

"It was suggested by defense counsel that Donald Trump's conduct during the attack, as described in Congresswoman Beutler's statement, is somehow not part of the Constitutional offense for which former President Trump has been charged," Raskin began. "I want to reject that falsehood and that fallacy immediately. After he knew that violence was underway at the Capitol, President Trump took actions that further incited the insurgents to be more inflamed and to take even more extreme, selective, and focused action against Vice President Mike Pence."

Raskin went on to use his time to describe Trump's months-long campaign to discredit the 2020 election results by spreading misinformation, which he argued laid the groundwork for deadly events of Jan. 6. He went on to claim that the former president assembled the mob, incited it and then sent it off to the Capitol during his speech. At every point, Trump sided with the insurrectionists rather than the Congress, Raskin said.

Once when the violence began, Raskin declared that Trump ignored the violence and further incited it by aiming the attacks on his own vice president.

"There has never been a greater betrayal by the president of the United States of his office, and of his oath to the Constitution."

Raskin then took a moment to suggest the GOP used "cancel culture" against one of its leaders, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who voted to impeach Trump in the House.

"Liz Cheney is a hero for standing up for the truth, and resisting this retaliatory cancel culture that she was subjected to."

Raskin emphasized his gratitude toward the Capitol Police, and finished his argument by saying convicting Trump is a vote for the "security of our democracy."

"They attacked this building, they disrupted the peaceful transfer of power, they injured and killed people, convinced that they were acting on his instructions, and with his approval, and protection," Raskin finished. "And while that happened, he further incited them, while failing to defend us. If that's not ground for conviction, if that's not a high crime and misdemeanor against the republic in the United States of America then nothing is. President Trump must be convicted for the safety and security of our democracy and our people."