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READ: House Impeachment Managers' Brief Outlines Arguments For Senate Trial Of Trump

Democratic House impeachment managers, led by Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, left, filed their pretrial brief outlining their case against former President Donald Trump for inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6.
Melina Mara
/
AP
Democratic House impeachment managers, led by Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, left, filed their pretrial brief outlining their case against former President Donald Trump for inciting an insurrection on Jan. 6.

The House Democrats prosecuting the case against the former president argue he holds "singular responsibility" for the Capitol riot and should be convicted and barred from future office.

The House impeachment managers who will argue in front of the Senate that former President Donald Trump should be convicted of inciting an insurrection at the Capitol have filed a brief that outlines their evidence.

"The Nation will indeed remember January 6, 2021 — and President Trump's singular responsibility for that tragedy. It is impossible to imagine the events of January 6 occurring without President Trump creating a powder keg, striking a match, and then seeking personal advantage from the ensuing havoc," the brief states.

The House managers — all Democrats — concluded that instead of accepting the November election results and conceding that now-President Biden won, Trump "summoned a mob to Washington, exhorted them into a frenzy, and aimed them like a loaded cannon down Pennsylvania Avenue."

The managers also detail in their brief that the Constitution allows for taking action against a private citizen for conduct during their term. Last week, all but five Republican senators voted in favor of a motion saying Trump's trial, now that he's out of office, is unconstitutional.

The 80-page document was required as part of the Senate resolution laying out deadlines for both the managers and Trump's defense team. The trial, with senators as jurors, is set to begin next week.

The managers appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are: Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who will lead the team; Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado; Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island; Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas; Rep. Eric Swalwell of California; Rep. Ted Lieu of California; Del. Stacey Plaskett, from the Virgin Islands; Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania; and Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado.

Read the full document below:

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Deirdre Walsh is the congress editor for NPR's Washington Desk.
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