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"Condemn or be an accomplice": A banner in front of the US Capitol admonishes the senators
Photo: ERIN SCOTT / REUTERS
Did Donald Trump instigate a mob to storm the US Capitol?
That is the central question of the impeachment proceedings against the ex-president.
From the point of view of the accusing Democrats, the matter is clear - on the second day of the trial they have now started an extensive presentation to support their position.
Trump was anything but an "innocent bystander" during the storm, but the "inciter in chief", so to speak the "chief instigator".
"It may have felt like chaos and madness to us," Prosecution spokesman, Democratic MP Jamie Raskin, said of the day in early January.
"But there was method behind the madness." Trump then did nothing to "stop the violence and protect the government."
The Democrats accuse Trump of inciting a riot.
Raskin's colleague Joe Neguse said the "mob" was "summoned, gathered and instigated" by Trump to prevent a peaceful transfer of power to his successor, Joe Biden.
Trump wanted to stay in power despite his November 3rd election defeat.
The storming of the Capitol with five dead had caused international horror.
The behavior of the then president also met with sharp criticism from many Republicans.
16 hours for the arguments
The impeachment process against Trump began on Tuesday.
The first question was whether the Senate can even try Trump as a former president.
A majority of the senators said yes and described the process as constitutional.
On Wednesday, the nine Democratic MPs who lead the indictment against Trump then began the allegations against the ex-president.
You have 16 hours over two days for this.
Then Trump's lawyers will have their say.
They get the same amount of time to present their arguments.
Trump himself is said to have been anything but happy about the opening speech of his lawyers, the two lawyers were ridiculed in the USA.
A conviction of the 74-year-old in the impeachment process is unlikely.
A two-thirds majority is required in the Senate for a guilty verdict.
Therefore, along with the 50 Senators of the Democrats, at least 17 Republicans would have to vote for a conviction.
A large majority of Republicans seem to be loyal to Trump.
Should Trump be convicted, contrary to expectations, he would be prohibited from running again for the presidency.
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mrc / dpa / AP
