(WASHINGTON D.C.) — The impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump continued Thursday with House managers further making a case why Trump incited an insurrection.
Rep. Madeleine Dean, of Pennsylvania, appeared confident that the evidence presented during the trial and signaled that witnesses may not be necessary.
“I think we’ve made our case,” she told reporters outside the chamber.
This is a stark shift from Trump’s previous impeachment trial, when in 2019 Democrats motioned to call witnesses, a move Republicans denied.
Opening arguments for the House impeachment managers appeared to wrap Thursday, after 10 hours of arguments.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, of Maryland, asked the Senate to execute “common sense” when voting on whether or not to convict the former president, saying at the end of his speech, “Let’s not get caught up in a lot of outlandish lawyers’ theories here. Exercise your common sense about what just took place in our country.”
The arguments laid out on Thursday continued to bolster the timeline that led up to the January 6 seige of the U.S. Capitol and how close several lawmakers came to certain disaster.
Rep. Joe Neguse, of Colorado, was one of the last House managers to speak, reiterating the mob believed they were acting on the former president’s orders and were inspired to unleash violence.
“He quite literally, at one part of that speech, pointed at us. He told them to fight like hell and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” argued Neguse. “He’d already made it perfectly clear that when he said ‘fight,’ he meant it.”
Trump’s remarks made during the rally were a central part in Thursday’s arguments, as House managers tried to prove there was clear intent behind the former president’s statements.
Neguse also added that Republicans were made aware that the rioters would listen to Trump, explaining how many directly implored the president to condemn the violence — of which Trump failed to do during the assault. The argument Neguse made was that, during those moments when Republicans called on the former president to summon the National Guard or backup, they had tied Trump to the riot.
Thursday also saw the House honor the Capitol Police, who have lost three of their own as a result of the riot — one who died during the incident and two more to suicide.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that, because of the bravery shown by the Capitol Police, she will be introducing legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal — the highest honor that lawmakers can bestow.
“The service of the Capitol Police force that day brings honor to our Democracy, and their accepting this Gold Medal will bring luster to this award,” Pelosi said.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman reacted to the Thursday announcement and said the department is “humbled and appreciative” by the recognition. Pittman also acknowledged the Metropolitan Police Department, who assisted during the seige.