House Managers: Suspend the trial and CALL THE SECRET SERVICE AS WITNESSES ASAP

[DonaldsRump]

As discussed elsewhere on DU, the Secret Service, by definition, clearly knew what was happening to BOTH trump and Pence on the afternoon of January 6, 2021. They would have second-by-second records of who knew what and when. They will also be able to tell exactly what trump was doing and when in precise detail while the insurrection was happening.

For example, the SS detail on Pence surely would have contacted SS headquarters to let them know that Pence (and the Capitol) was in danger and that he was being evacuated. And surely, the POTUS would have been informed about that because, well, after all he was the POTUS at that time. And surely the SS would have noted down what POTUS's response was.

After conducting an investigation, the House Managers should call the SS agents protecting BOTH trump and Pence into testify. Suspend the conviction trial until this is done.

Secret Service testified in the Clinton-Lewinsky "investigation" (https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/07/23/lewinsky/ ). There is ABSOLUTELY no reason why they cannot also testify during this impeachment conviction trial. It is far more important.

This is a bare minimum, in addition to calling McCarthy, Pence, etc. But, start with the SS first.

[Tetrachloride]

1. I cannot see the Star Spangled Banner waving unless the smoke clears. Call all witnesses.

Let the Sunshine In

[ananda]

6. Yes, sunshine is much needed!

!!!

[gab13by13]

2. Call Kevin McCarthy,

he is the smoking gun. Trump told him that the rioters care more about the election than he does when he asked for help.

CALL McCARTHY.

[DonaldsRump]

4. Agree, but there would be a lot of groundwork before McCarthy

Phone records from the White House establishing time and length of call, movements of the POTUS and VPOTUS from the Secret Service, etc.

You want all that locked down before you call McCarthy so he can't weasel (or worse) out of giving full and accurate testimony.

[gab13by13]

9. The press found out about it.

The information is out there. Will the person who reported the call to the press be protected as a confidential witness? This needs to come to light, think about it. The statement by Trump said to McCarthy, "the rioters care more about the election than you do," and then McCarthy cursed at the president. SMOKING GUN.

[Hugin]

3. The House needs to emphasize that a mob -blank- was speaking in person to less than an...

hour earlier stormed the Capitol.

There's also the fact an armed insurrection was under way down the street and the President wasn't being moved to a secure location.

[DonaldsRump]

5. Indeed. Why WASN'T trump evacuated?

Again, the SS could answer this question, since that's their job.

Given that the SS is under the control of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, I don't think it would be very difficult to get this done.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

7. Whoa...that didn't even click in till you said it...

True enough that the White House is quite well protected but no one had any idea of what could happen.

[Hugin]

12. I can't take credit for the revalation.

The real thinker is buried somewhere in the GD forum archives. Bless them.

However, there are two salient points the defense is frantically waving every red herring they can find to distract from:

Persona Nongrata had only 45 minutes prior to the attack personally and in-the-flesh addressed this same group without any noticeable increase in security.

and

The if-not-for test. In the form of if not for Trump would there have been an armed insurrection at the US Capitol on Jan 6th? Which, of course, the answer to is and can only be, No.

What happened that day is the only example in his life of a parade he doesn't want to be seen leading, and it was one where he was in front.

[Evolve Dammit]

8. Pence and McCarthy need to be heard as well, but SS is an excellent idea

[gab13by13]

10. McCarthy's phone call is the smoking gun.

The information is out there, the press found out about it.

[DonaldsRump]

11. McCarthy voted to object to certification immediately after the end of the Insurrection

And he voted not to impeach Trump.

He is not going to be the most cooperative witness, so the Managers should get info from other, more neutral sources first.

Also, can a member of the House be subpoenaed to testify by the Senate or by the House Managers? I honestly don't know how/if that works. Unless he did it voluntarily, which I doubt he would, that process could be sticky.

[gab13by13]

13. There was talk of getting Tuberville to testify

and he's a juror.

[russiamommy]

14. Both McCarthy and Tuberville need to be called

They are the smoking guns. Issue the subpoenas.

[NoMoreRepugs]

15. But the Clinton investigation involved potential intergalactic

ramifications of consensual sex among adults.

[turbinetree]

16. I tell you what bring everyone in like the men and women that were standing next

to Brian Sicknick................everyone of them and explain to the world what it was like to be overrun by trump terrorist, and then ask why didn't anyone, up all the way to the traitor scam artist con not call in the national guard. After all the only reason why there are hearings going on now is because of a fence and national guard, because if there was no fence these assholes would be trying to do phase two.........and that asshole is collecting a taxpayer check for retirement and playing fucking golf..............

[Ferrets are Cool]

17. This x 1000