Ahead of the possibly unconstitutional impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, the 45th President’s lawyers have released their answer to the single article. Trump’s response calls the House Democrats’ impeachment charge “facially and substantively flawed, and otherwise unconstitutional,” and states the article of impeachment “must be dismissed with prejudice.” While this is the second impeachment of Trump, it is likely the 45th President will be acquitted for the second time and he could emerge from the process more popular than ever with the Republican Party base.
“Donald John Trump, 45th President of the United States respectfully requests the Honorable Members of the Senate of the United States dismiss Article I: Incitement of Insurrection against him as moot, and thus in violation of the Constitution, because the Senate lacks jurisdiction to remove from office a man who does not hold office,” a statement signed by Bruce Castor, legal counsel to the 45th President of the United States said. “In the alternative, the 45th President respectfully requests the Senate acquit him on the merits of the allegations raised in the article of impeachment.”
It does seem like the Senate will put on a trial of emotion, as 45 Republican Senators already voted that this process was unconstitutional since former President Trump is no longer in office. It’s hard to imagine anything in such a hyper-political hearing will sway enough votes to convict.
Through his counsel Bruce L. Castor, Jr. and David Schoen, President Trump broke down House Democrats’ allegations.
“The constitutional provision requires that a person actually hold office to be impeached. Since the 45th President is no longer ‘President,’ the clause ‘shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for…’ is impossible for the Senate to accomplish, and thus the current proceeding before the Senate is void ab initioas a legal nullity that runs patently contrary to the plain language of the Constitution,” the legal team argues.
Read President Trump’s full answer to the article of impeachment against him:
