The prosecutors of the House of Representatives in the impeachment of former President Donald Trump have called him to testify under oath before or during the
impeachment
proceedings
in the Senate, to defend himself against the accusation of having incited his followers to march against him Capitol before the violent assault on the headquarters of Congress in Washington on January 6.
The request of the prosecutors, a task carried out by Democratic congressmen (since this party holds the majority in the House of Representatives), was made known this Thursday in a letter as part of the preparations for the impeachment, which will begin on 9 February.
The former president is not required to testify, but according to prosecutors, if he refuses, it could be used at trial to support his conviction.
This same argument was already used in Trump's previous impeachment trial, but his defense ignored the petition, which carries the risk of perjury.
One of the former president's lawyers, Bruce Castor, has told NBC News that Trump will not testify.
[Trump is already the first president to face two impeachments. Now what's next?]
In the letter, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, one of the prosecutors, asks Trump to provide a statement "either before or during the Senate impeachment" as early as February 8 and
no later than Thursday, February 11. february
.
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"In light of your challenge to the factual allegations [against you], I am writing to invite you to testify under oath," wrote Raskin, a Maryland Democrat and chief prosecutor.
Democrats accuse the former president of violence in Congress and ask that he not be allowed to hold public office again.
"The responsibility that Trump has regarding the events of January 6 is unmistakable," they indicated in the arguments presented this week, "he abused his position and thereby threatened and attacked the democratic order" in an act that represents an "offense prosecutable of historic proportions. "
Trump's defense denied in a brief filed this week that he had incited the attack and even claimed that he "performed admirably in his role as president, at all times doing what he thought was in the best interests of the American people."
Trump may reject the request
for testimony, and prosecutors do not have the authority to subpoena witnesses at this time, as the House of Representatives has already voted on
impeachment
.
The Senate can subpoena Trump or any other witness, with a simple majority vote.
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Raskin asked Trump for
an answer Friday afternoon
.
[One million for travel, his pension and other Trump privileges at stake for the impeachment]
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and a staunch Trump ally, called the request a "political tactic" by Democrats, and suggested that the former president was highly unlikely to agree: "I don't think that's in the interest of nobody".
With information from The Associated Press and NBC News.