Trump's impeachment defense is still a mess

[DonViejo]

Aaron Blake 29 mins ago

Former president Donald Trump will probably be acquitted in the Senate impeachment trial that is set to begin Tuesday.

But just because Trump’s defense is likely to succeed — by giving at least 33 senators a reason the shouldn’t vote to convict — that doesn’t mean it’s good. On the eve of the trial, the defense team reinforced just how haphazard and strained its efforts have been.

Trump’s defense has thus far rested on a series of arguments that do little to address his culpability for allegedly inciting the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. It has argued that the proceedings themselves are unconstitutional and that Trump has free speech — without focusing much on the established limits on such speech, which include incitement.

The brief his legal team filed Monday reinforces some of the circular and broken logic of his defense — a throw-stuff-at-the-wall strategy that mirrors Trump’s own approach to politics.

more/No Paywall
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-e2-80-99s-impeachment-defense-is-still-a-mess/ar-BB1dxo4q

[grumpyduck]

1. "But just because Trump's defense is likely to succeed..."

"... by giving at least 33 senators a reason the shouldn’t vote to convict."

Bullshit. Those assholes don't give a shit about the defense. They've already decided how they will vote.

[TwilightZone]

2. Their problem is that there's nothing to defend.

That rather complicates their case. So, one of their few options is to throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks.

[lettucebe]

3. And they just added another lawyer to the mix. That's a smart move, not.

[matt819]

4. In movies, the judge sometimes polls the jury

Or something like that. Did you vote of your own free will? Did anyone offer you compensation of any kind to vote as you did? Were you threatened?

Sure would be nice to hear someone get up and do that to the republicans.