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Prosecutor Jamie Raskin and other Senate members ahead of impeachment
Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP
The second impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump have begun.
The former US president is accused of "inciting a riot".
He is said to be partly to blame for the storm on the Capitol on January 6th.
Since Trump has already left office, the Senate will discuss right from the start whether the ongoing process is even permissible.
Trump's lawyers argue that the impeachment process is unconstitutional.
The Senate could only judge incumbent, but not previous presidents.
The Democratic prosecutors oppose that even after leaving the White House, Trump must be held accountable for his actions as President - and banned from future offices at the federal level.
As things stand now, a conviction of Trump is not in sight.
As a prelude, the Democratic MP and prosecutor Jamie Raskin presented a compilation of shocking recordings showing the great brutality of Trump supporters during the storming: rioters breaking through security barricades in droves, smashing window panes, and forcibly entering boardrooms and offices.
Police officers desperately trying to defend themselves against the overwhelming force of the intruders.
Congress officials and MPs trying to keep themselves safe from attackers.
Five people died in the riot.
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Prosecutor Jamie Raskin
Photo: MELINA MARA / AFP
"Because of this, the House of Representatives initiated impeachment proceedings against the president on January 13," said Raskin after the almost quarter-hour video.
"If that is not an offense that deserves impeachment, then nothing." Trump's statements on January 6th were also presented - including his call to his followers to "fight the devil out".
So far it is not foreseeable that a two-thirds majority could come about to condemn Trump.
This would require 17 Republicans to side with the 50 Democratic Senators.
And without a conviction - at least in this way - there is no suspension of office against Trump that would deny him a presidential candidacy in 2024.
Historical procedure
The impeachment proceedings against Trump are historic in several respects: The Republican goes down in history as the first US president to face two impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives during his tenure.
It is also the first time that an impeachment case is being conducted in the Senate against a president who is no longer in office.
With the support of ten Republican MPs, the Democrats initiated impeachment proceedings against Trump in January.
This procedure is managed and decided in the Senate.
The Congress Chamber takes on the role of a court.
The Senate majority is expected to vote Tuesday evening that the trial against Trump is constitutional.
After that, the prosecutors and defense counsel are to spread their arguments in the matter over the next few days (read here what to expect in the trial)
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kim / dpa / AFP