This is the summation I would give if I were the lead House manager at the Senate impeachment trial.
"Mr. President, legal counsel for Donald Trump, distinguished senators, I want to take the last thirty minutes or so to sum up our case and to hopefully persuade some of you who are still on the fence. I realize this has not been easy for you; please know it has been equally difficult for the House managers. The images we've seen in this chamber have evoked painful memories of what happened on January 6. On behalf of all of us, I thank you for your patience.
"Over the last few days we have presented compelling evidence that months before millions of people went to the polls to cast their ballots, then president Donald J. Trump actively undermined the integrity of the election itself. He made it abundantly clear that any outcome that didn't result in his being reelected would be fraudulent. And furthermore we saw clearly that his supporters believed what he was saying.
"Almost from the moment the polls closed on Election Day, Donald Trump not only questioned the results, he began a series of preemptive measures designed to overturn them. From his myriad legal challenges in over sixty courtrooms, to his coercion and threatening of election officials in various swing states, the 45th president went to any and all lengths to remain in power. When he had finally exhausted all his peaceful options, he turned to violence. His rally on the Ellipse on January 6 was no spontaneous event; it was planned well in advance. His own tweet dated weeks earlier said it would be 'wild.' And how prophetic it would be.
"Those who showed up that day did so because they had been summoned by Trump for one purpose: to prevent Congress from counting the electoral votes. We saw the mob descend upon the Capitol, break through the barriers and finally breach the building itself. And we also heard the mob in their own words declare who it was that sent them there that day. 'Trump sent us,' they shouted over and over. They walked up and down these hallowed halls chanting 'Hang Mike Pence, Hang Mike Pence.' Outside the Capitol building, a gallows was erected for the express purpose of doing just that. Thankfully, as we all saw, the vice president was safely escorted out of harm's way.
"We saw the bravery of several Capitol police officers who successfully diverted members of this body to safety, some in the nick of time. And we also saw several of them suffer severe injuries, some mortal, in defense of this citadel of democracy. We saw this very chamber overtaken by these insurrectionists, many of whom sat down at the very desks you're sitting in today, rummaging through your papers, looking for anything that could help them in their quest to 'stop the steal.'
"And we also saw that while this building was under siege, Trump didn't lift a finger to help a single one of us who were trapped inside. Indeed, when he did respond, his number one priority wasn't for our safety, but for his own self interests. He actually called a senator in an attempt to delay further the counting of the electoral votes. He tweeted his disappointment at his vice president over the latter's decision to honor his oath of office, and in so doing put him and his entire family in jeopardy.
"When he finally did issue a statement about the assault, he posted a video on Twitter in which he called the mob patriots and said he loved them. At the time that video was posted, the Capitol still had not been secured. Hundreds of insurrectionists were still roaming the building looking for anyone to exact their rage on. It is no small miracle that more people were not killed that day.
"We heard counsel for the former president claim that to impeach and convict Donald Trump is a violation of his First Amendment rights. That is nonsense. They know full well that shouting fire in a crowded movie theater when there's no fire is not protected under the First Amendment. It never was and it never will be.
"Next they claim there was no way Trump could've known his words would lead to the violence we saw take place on January 6. That somehow these people just showed up on their own and took matters into their owns hands. To even suggest such an explanation strains credulity. We've clearly shown through a pattern of behavior and past tweets that Trump's intent could not have been more clear. He meant for this to happen. He was counting on it, in fact.
"Counsel for the former president has attempted to justify Trump's actions by employing a false equivalence. They want you to believe that the protests that took place last summer, some of which turned violent, are no different than the insurrection that took place at the Capitol. Again, this does not pass the smell test. For the record, the House managers decry any violence that takes place in this country regardless of the circumstances. As Americans, it is our right to peacefully protest; it is not our right, however, to destroy personal property. And those who engaged in such conduct should be held accountable.
"But what took place here on January 6 was no mere protest; it was an attempted coup. And those who took part in it did so at the direction of Mr. Trump. But for his involvement, none of this would've happened. Through his actions and, sadly, his inactions, this republic, which has stood for more than 230 years, almost came to an end.
"But what I want to talk to you about right now isn't the merits of this case, which I believe we've proven beyond any reasonable doubt; what I want to talk to you about is the politics of this case. Because while, yes, you are jurors, you are also politicians, and as such you see the world through the prism of politics.
"Let's be honest for a moment. Every action we take, every word we utter has a cost associated with it. Our constituents hold us to account for what we do and say. And when they're displeased they let us know in no uncertain terms. You may not have your phones with you now, but rest assured after we're done here, all of you will check your Twitter feeds to see how this is playing out in your home states. I understand fully the pressures all of you must be feeling during this trial. In a perfect world, you would've been sequestered, but we all know that was never going to happen. So we have to make do with what we have.
"The fact is Donald Trump is immensely popular within the Republican Party. According to the polls, 75 percent of registered Republicans still support him. To cast a vote to convict will not go over well with your base. It may even result in you getting a primary challenge. Some of you have already been censured by your state parties just for expressing your disapproval of the actions of Mr. Trump. I applaud your courage; I know it was not an easy step for you to take.
"But here's the thing: 75 is not a hundred. While casting a vote to convict Trump may anger his supporters, not casting a vote to convict could prove more costly. In a recent poll, 54 percent of independent voters believe that Donald Trump should be convicted and barred from ever holding office again. For those of you who hail from states where the independent vote is fairly substantial, you need to know that those people are paying close attention to this trial as well. They're watching you very closely to see what you do. I can assure you, in states like Florida and North Carolina and Ohio and Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, they'll be voting in 2022 and 2024. And they will not look too kindly on anyone who shirked his or her responsibility.
"Some of you may believe you can't win without Donald Trump. I would submit just the opposite is true: you can't win with him. Take a good look to your left. There are 50 senators sitting in those seats; 50 Democratic senators. When Trump was sworn in, Republicans controlled both houses of Congress and the White House. Over the last four years, he has cost you both majorities, the White House and several outstanding senators. Two of them, here today, have decided not to seek reelection.
"Even after Trump lost the presidential election, rather than help you hold onto your Senate majority by vigorously campaigning on behalf of David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler, he instead went on a grievance tour, attacking the Republican governor and secretary of state in Georgia, which resulted in a depressed turnout within your base. Look, I take nothing away from the accomplishments of Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, but it would be naive of me to believe that both candidates didn't get a great deal of assistance from the former president. On behalf of the Democratic Party, I say thank you, Mr. Trump.
"If that makes you angry, good, it was meant to. But direct your anger where it belongs. This man who you still carry water for has caused irreparable damage to your party. We may disagree on policy, but this was once the party of Lincoln; a party that stood for deeply conservative principles and values. Look, I didn't vote for Mitt Romney in 2012, but I consider him to be a moral man with great integrity. And I can assure you that had he been president the last four years this country would never have gone through the hell it went through. Who knows? Maybe if he had been president, you'd still be in the majority.
"Sorry, I know that hurt. The truth always hurts.
"The fact is you know who Donald Trump is and you know full well what he did. And you also know what he's capable of still doing. Is there a person among you that doesn't shudder at the thought of what retribution he could inflict should he win the White House in 2024? Or the riots he could bring about should he lose? Think about it. He sent his foot soldiers to kill his own vice president on January 6. What makes you think he gives a damn about any of you? To remain in power he would've sacrificed everyone in this building. In the narcissistic world of Donald Trump, fealty is expected but never returned.
"Look at how he treated his own attorney general. William Barr did everything he could to appease Trump, but when he was asked to intervene in the 2020 election, that was a bridge too far. When Barr said there was no widespread fraud sufficient to affect the outcome, Trump turned on him. As a result, Barr was forced to resign a month before his term expired. This is what Trump does to everyone eventually. You think you're safe just because you vote to acquit him? Think again. Sooner or later, you'll say or do something that will displease him and he'll come after you just as surely as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The longer you let him hang around, the worse this gets, both for you and for the country.
"The truth is, you don't matter to him; you never did. You were just a means to an end. And that end was him taking over the country. The American people, thankfully, got in the way ... this time. But next time, who knows, he might get away with it. And if he gets away with it, you can kiss this republic goodbye.
"A year ago, we warned you this would happen. A year ago, you had the opportunity to remove him from office, but you chose not to. One of you said in an interview on ABC that he would be chastened by the experience. Instead of being chastened, he was emboldened. That's what despots do when you don't stand up to them; they only get stronger. Even without his Twitter account, Trump continues to exert his dominance over you.
"Well here's your opportunity to say 'Enough is enough!' Here's your chance to send him packing once and for all. Here's where you get to say to him, 'You're fired!' I can't do it for you; only you can. In every abusive relationship there comes a point where the victim refuses to be a victim any longer. There is no order of protection that can shield you from Trump; no intervention program that will suffice. He is incapable of changing or reforming. The only way to rid yourselves of him is to change the locks. Even now, with all the graphic images we've seen, he shows no remorse or regret for his behavior. The only thing he cares about is himself. Two police officers are dead and one of his own was fatally shot. They're just collateral damage as far as he's concerned.
"Look, this is tearing you up on the inside. I know because I've spoken with several of your Democratic colleagues and they've told me what you've told them. I've also seen some of your interviews on a certain cable news network that shall go nameless. I've seen hostages videos that look better. This isn't what you signed up for. It's not what any of us would sign up for. But, yet, here we are.
"The choice before you could not be clearer. Do you want to be the party of Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse and Liz Cheney or do you want to be the party of Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene? You can not be both. There isn't enough room under that big tent that Kevin McCarthy spoke about a few days ago to accommodate both factions. Sooner or later one will win out.
"Now is your moment of truth. The threat to the nation could not be more grave. Donald Trump incited a mob in an attempt to overturn an election he lost. That act of insurrection cannot go unpunished. He must be convicted and barred from ever holding office again. Failure to do so will all but guarantee a repeat of what we saw on January 6. The eyes of history are upon you. And history, as we know all too well, has a very long memory.
"I thank all of you for your time and for your patience. And I pray that you will discharge your duty faithfully. May God guide you in your decision."
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