Trump’s defence urges dismissal of ‘absurd’ impeachment trial

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump’s legal team argued on Monday on the eve of his impeachment trial that the case is constitutionally flawed and it was “absurd” to hold the former president responsible for the US Capitol riot.

The House of Representatives impeached Trump for a historic second time last month over his role in inciting the deadly storming of Congress by his supporters, and his trial begins Tuesday with the Senate’s 100 members sitting as jurors.

For only the fourth time ever an impeached American president is on trial, and two of these trials have involved Trump — a deeply damaged political figure who despite that remains a major force in the Republican Party.

Charged with “incitement of insurrection,” he is likely once again to avoid conviction due to loyal party support in the Senate, but his lawyers contended in their final pre-trial filing that the Constitution does not give the chamber jurisdiction to try a former president.

“The Senate should dismiss these charges and acquit the president because this is clearly not what the framers wanted or what the Constitution allows,” his defense attorneys Bruce Castor, David Schoen and Michael T. van der Veen wrote.

“Indulging House Democrats hunger for this political theater is a danger to our Republic democracy and the rights that we hold dear.”