Trump lawyers to House Dems: Um, you’re wrong

[deckeda]

If it’s Bizzaro World, you know it’s a Republican statement being made.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/...MGJM4L5KSI

So the trial has effectively begun, as balloons are floated to see which flies highest.

“Trump attorneys offer First Amendment defense ahead of Senate trial”

“Trump’s new defense lawyers filed a 14-page response to the House article of impeachment Tuesday, denying that he incited the crowd at his Jan. 6 rally to storm the Capitol and “engage in destructive behavior.” The brief also disputed that Trump’s claims of voter fraud were false.

“The 45th President exercised his First Amendment right under the Constitution to express his belief that the election results were suspect,” the brief states.

“Insufficient evidence exists upon which a reasonable jurist could conclude that the 45th President’s statements were accurate or not, and he therefore denies they were false,” his lawyers added.
Trump’s defense team also denied that he sought to pressure state election officials to overturn Biden’s victory.

In any case, they argued, the Senate does not have constitutional grounds to try an impeached former president.”

[deckeda]

It’s classic.

He can do anything he wants, and even if he did it you can’t un-allow it.

I’m not clear on how incitement of violence is protected by the First Amendment but I’m sure it’ll be ‘splained to us.

They get bonus points for claiming no evidence exists. I suspect they’ll be shown several videos, including a few posted by the former presidents biggest fans.

[Lemon Drop]

Only 14 pages and with glaring typos, somebody pulled an all-nighter to get this thing out on time. Rather than reaching any compelling legal argument against the article of impeachment, trump's new team is just going with "but this isn't fair! WAAAAH!"

The Dem case has already been made: that yes there is precedent in convicting an impeached official after they leave office, and no, Trump's repeated direction to his cult to commit violence doesn't fall under the first amendment.

[GGD]

If reports about cost being the reason for the change in legal teams, then this current team must now be "the lowest bidder".

[S. Pupp]

I thought perjury by the defendant and falsehoods put forth in court by lawyers were frowned upon.

[Sarcany]

Lemon Drop wrote:
Only 14 pages and with glaring typos, somebody pulled an all-nighter to get this thing out on time. Rather than reaching any compelling legal argument against the article of impeachment, trump's new team is just going with "but this isn't fair! WAAAAH!"

His former attorneys dropped out because he refused to consider any defense other than "THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN!!"

(Which is no defense at all.)

(Not that it matters. He owns half the Senate.)

[PeterB]

In other words, it's the "it's not a lie if you believe it" defense, with the corollary of "Because of the 1st amendment, I can say whatever I like with no responsibility or consequences" defense.

[Lemon Drop]

GGD wrote:
If reports about cost being the reason for the change in legal teams, then this current team must now be "the lowest bidder".

Yes here's the axios story
https://www.axios.com/trump-legal-fees-i...c5165.html

Again, leakiest ship ever. Can't even keep attorney convos private.

[SteveG]

"Exactly. And that's why Charles Manson is not guilty."

[sekker]

... and even if he did commit treason, he’s no longer President and you do not have the authority to convict.

Nice.