The NPR Politics Podcast President's Defense Team Concludes Arguments in Impeachment Trial
Jan 28, 2020
The defense team's concluding arguments assert that the impeachment charges don't meet constitutional standards. They argue that impeachment undermines the 2016 election results and assert the legality of the president's actions. Tension builds as Democrats push for witness testimonies, particularly from John Bolton, whose upcoming book could be pivotal. Senate Republicans face political pressure to balance party loyalty and transparency amidst a complex question-and-answer session in the trial.
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Clinton Impeachment Parallels
- Pat Cipollone used a video compilation of Democrats arguing against impeachment during the Clinton trial.
- He then argued that while Democrats were right then, the circumstances are different now.
Defense's Core Argument
- The main argument from Trump's defense is that impeachment would nullify the 2016 election.
- They claim the president's foreign policy actions, even if unusual, are not impeachable offenses because they aren't crimes.
Strategic Defense
- The defense needs only one argument to resonate with enough senators for acquittal.
- Senators can choose any justification to vote to acquit.