Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said on Wednesday that she couldn’t imagine that former President Trump would be elected again after voters see more exclusive unseen footage showing more details of how rioters breached the Capitol and lawmakers fearfully evacuating the chambers.
“Frankly, I don’t see how, after the American public sees the whole story laid out here, not just one snippet on this day and another on that but this whole scenario. I don’t see how Donald Trump could be reelected to the presidency again. I just don’t see that,” Murkowski told reporters, saying seeing the unreleased footage left her “angry,” “disturbed,” and “sad.”
It is unclear whether Trump would mull a bid to regain the presidency, but some of the former president’s allies have suggested that a 2024 run could be on the cards. However, if Trump is convicted in the impeachment trial, which is highly unlikely, only a simple majority vote on a subsequent resolution would bar he ever again holding public office.
On Wednesday, House impeachment managers began showing Senators who are serving as juries unreleased security footage of lawmakers evacuating the Capitol as the rioters were breaching into the building and began marching their way up to where both the House and Senate chambers are located. In one footage, it was literally a close call for Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) as the heroic Police officer Eugene Goodman who diverted the heavy mob of insurrectionists away from the Senate chamber, warning the Utah Senator just moments before to turn around and run for safety. Other footages showed former Vice President Mike Pence along with Second Lady Karen Pence and one of their daughter evacuating the Senate chambers.
The House managers have 16 hours in total, divided into two days — Wednesday and Thursday to make their case on why Trump should be impeached despite he is no longer in office. Using the footage as an emotional plea, Democrats are seeking to pull on the heartstring of at least 17 Senate Republicans to join the 50 Senate Democrats in convicting Trump, a task highly unlikely to ever succeed as many GOP Senators believe the trial sets a dangerous precedent.
The impeachment managers are attempting to bank on how the videos montaging are motivating their colleagues to make an unexpected decision just like what Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) did on Tuesday to support their case that the trial is constitutional. Cassidy, who praised the House managers’ presentations on Tuesday, was the only GOP senator whose flipped their vote and not forecasted in advance.
“To be trying to remove a President who is not in office,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said, previously calling the impeachment trial as “stupid” last week. “It’s not about Donald Trump — it’s about the future.”
Trump’s legal team will counter the House managers case by continuing to push the argument that the impeachment trial is unconstitutional since Trump is no longer in office. Senate Republicans want the attorneys to show footage of Democrats hypocrisy, with remarks literally inciting violence amongst other videos to show the House Democrats failure to meet the burden of proof.
Within the two day 16 hour time-span, the House impeachment managers are attempting to make the emotional case, putting together a timeline detailing where the rioters were at the Capitol, Trump’s remarks Democrats believe incited the insurrection, and the pleas from allies and lawmakers to the then-president before he released a Twitter video two hours later as a way to get his supporters to leave the complex. They are attempting to make the case by using the rioters’ own words and splicing them in creative heavily edited videos to prove that the former president incited the charges they are trying to convict Trump of inciting the Capitol insurrection.
“President Trump put a target on their backs and his mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down,” Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.), one of the nine impeachment managers said as she unveiled more video footage.
“He told them to fight like hell, and they brought us hell that day. This case is not about blaming an innocent bystander. This is about holding accountable the person singularly responsible for this attack,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the lead House impeachment manager said while referring to Trump numerous times throughout the eight hours as the “inciter-in-chief.”
Murkowski said the House managers are making “a strong case,” adding that “the evidence that has been presented thus far is pretty damning.”
Almost all the senators in the Senate chambers watched in silence with some being visibly shaken, accord to a Senate reporter pool report as they watched the unseen mixed with collective videos of images and audio of the rioters’ vulgar taunts. The reporter covering the impeachment trial inside the Senate chamber noted Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) appearing distressed as he was watching the video of the officer-involved shooting outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Speaker’s office that led to the killing of a Trump supporter, Ashley Babbitt. Lankford at one point was seen to be teary-eyed and was consoled by fellow Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) who was sitting next to the Oklahoma Senator. When footage became too graphic, such as one scene with officers getting beaten, both Democrats and Republicans would turn their head to look away from the television screens as the sound was blaring at a high volume from inside the chamber.
While acknowledging the horrifying nature of the riot footage, Trump’s Republican allies said it still does not justify blaming Trump for inciting the violence.
“They spent a great deal of time focusing on the horrific acts of violence that were played out by the criminals, but the language from the president doesn’t come close to meeting the legal standard for incitement,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told reporters after the Senate convened.
Capitol RiotCongressImpeachment TrialPresident TrumpSen. Lisa MurkowskiSenateSenate Impeachment Trial
robert w sanders
February 14, 2021YOU WONT BE RELECTED YOU STUPID IDIOT.
SDOfAZ
February 12, 2021It is time to recall this traitor Alaska. She is not a GOP, just a lousy RINO. Sarah Palin or another conservative needs to take her job.
Susan Bernheisel
February 12, 2021I wonder why they believe they are special as they sit there while every day Americans are attacked, intimidated, threatened, businesses burned down by their favorite terrorist ANTIFA and BLM. They do nothing to stop it, they do nothing to protect the American people but God forbid protesters-peaceful protesters using the Dems definition of peaceful- enter their kingdom building. Sick of them!
Sage
February 12, 2021Frankly I don’t know how Alaskans can continue to elect you to the Senate with such idiotic statements coming from your mouth Senator. The point is those scenes are not attributable to President Trump. Those scenes are a result of a government that fails to listen to it’s people, whose representatives think they are above the law, whose government picks and chooses what laws it will enforce (immigration..sanctuary cities/states) instead of having vigorous debate and compromise over the issues of the day.
Camille Gilliam
February 12, 2021Senator Murkowski, You don’t think that George Soros paid Antifa to go and commit violence at the Capitol Building? The Republicans that ended up inside were probably pushed in. You sure have NEVER listened to President Trump’s speech that day because they are only telling you part of what he said. I really have trouble believing that the Republicans in Alaska even reelected you, you are such a RINO that you are worthless.
Terry
February 12, 2021First, Murkowski is an independent; not a Republican. She was primaried out by Alaskan Republicans then ran as an independent. Second, why would people care about something already proven that he had nothing to do with? The “new world order” types like she are despicable.
Fran
February 12, 2021It is obvious to me based on the groups that stormed the building that it was planned by Pelosi and her gang, not to have additional security, so that Mr. Trump could be blamed. The problem was she did not coordinate her times with her activists and it started to soon. Also, I hate to say it but the Capitol Police were in on the whole thing. I watched as the rioters were LET in. There was advanced planning, poor as it was, and it was not Mr. Trump.
Carl
February 12, 2021Murkowski is a RINO! Were is Mitch McConnell? We have seen people being let in the capital by the police. There is a video of people ,in a room in the capital ,going over riot plans. We also have heard that the police were under staffed(even though they requested more police and were denied). What about the 7 months of Antifa and BLM rioting. That cost about 19 deaths and millions of dollars in damage. Kamala Harris helped bail out rioters so they could riot again. Democrats ignored rioting because they were getting campaign contributions from rioters. The Dems media outlets pushed false narratives against police to start riots. With all of the Damage the Democrats ignored and allowed to happen , Murkowski is now going to believe the Dems!
Bill
February 11, 2021Anyrhing about the best president maybe ever that uses lies to degrade him, is wrong. . .He is the only president that asked what we saw was needed and then followed through. . .Name me any other politician that does this and the remembers the people who suggested the right moves to make. . . .Maybe he was a little curt and short in his speech but he tried to be honest and forgot flowery speech. . .and challenge him and exp[ect him to return the favor ! ! ! Murkowski only got into office by her father she was appointed> ( Her family will always be rememberedfor the very expensive road and bridge to no where ! ! ! !
BBURGHS
February 11, 2021MURKOWSKI OBVIOUSLY HAS NOT BOTHERED TO WATCH TRUMP’S 7 SEPARATE POSTED VIDEOS WHICH CONDEMN ANY VIOLENCE AND ENJOIN ALL…ALL… TO PROTEST PEACEFULLY.
ALL…ALL 7 VIDEOS WERE REMOVED THAT DAY BY TWITTER, GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK WITHIN HOURS OF HIS PRESIDENTIAL POSTS. ALL 7 REQUESTING PEACEFUL MARCHING AND PRESENCE. ALL 7 CONDEMNING VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND. ALL 7!!…… IMMEDIATELY DESTROYED AND EXTRACTED WORDS USED TO SUGGEST THE OPPOSITE OF THE COMPLETED PEACEFUL INTENT.
THIS SICK SHAM HIGHLIGHTS THE TRUE UNAMERICAN TDS THAT LIVES IN THE CRANIA OF THE DANGEROUS ‘WOKE’ LEFTISTS WHO ARE MARCHING FOR COMPLETE THOUGHT, DEED, BELIEF AND ACTION CONTROL OF EVERY AMERICAN.
GOD BLESS TRUMP AND AMERICA.
1kind2others
February 11, 2021So by her statement then she could be accused of trying to influence the jury, which she is part of by boasting her statement and her prejudice blind thought that the man is so powerful that none of these people could think and make choices themselves. Especially all the BLM and Antifa present and they had been there several days and a pipe bomb put in front of the RNC office as well as DNC. These people so loved Trump and he really influenced them. Security knew days ahead that there might be riots and look out what it would have been if the Congress had voted to not count the states that were questioned for fraud. Why is she so smart to think that BLM and Antifa weren’t there for a reason? I guess to take videos for them to use in their argument these last couple of days. How much did they pay BLM to get the videos and use? Congress people are so set filled with hate they don’t even reason or think logically in what they do, like spend 4 years on impeachment, and Pelosi parading around like queen bee that has lost her mind.
Charles
February 11, 2021Murkowski should not even be in the Senate to begin with! Talk about election fiasco! Her father assigned her to fill his seat on the Senate, when he resigned. How her sour puss stays on as the Senator, is beyond me. Many, many Alaskans are rabidly against her.
Brian
February 11, 2021We Americans are living through the horror of the Have and Have nots. How in the world can anyone say that a stimulus plan should give money to anyone still getting their full pay and working. If your income has not suffered from the China Virus, then you should not be getting a stimulus check. the money should be going to those that are unemployed, cant work because of lock downs, the food service industry. Please tell me why a stimulus package that is designed to help people that need money goes to a politician that makes $150k of my tax dollars. their paycheck has not suffered and yet they get a stimulus check. This is so corrupt. How can the politicians pass a bill that gives them more money. they have not missed a beat over this China Virus and I am sure they are all making more money than ever with their side deals. It is sickening at how our politicians place so much Pork in bills and waste our tax dollars. I guarantee normal hard working Americans pay more tax percentage their income than any politician. They have the means to use every loop hole to sneak around, but us normal hard working people get stuck paying for their lavish lifestyle. The chamber should be stocked with old metal folding chairs, so then maybe the Hot Air politicians wouldn’t sit on their asses and listen to themselves talk so long. Government is a joke, on both sides.
deerflyguy
February 11, 2021I don’t want Donald Trump to run again! He did run for re election and I believe he won it only to have it stolen from him! The people of this nation don’t deserve him, nor does he deserve what would be done to him a second time which might even be worse than what he went through the first time!
Dorothy
February 11, 2021Can’t wait to see Sarah Paling beat her in the next election and we will finally get rid of this turncoat traitor lying RINO once and for all. Next will be Susan Collins and Mutt Romney. All those RINO,s careers are over! Good riddance to all that trash.
ralph
February 11, 2021to Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska): your hate for the former President has always been out there from day one–normal people like myself really think it is time we take our country because most Senators and Representatives have gotten to damn big for their britches –and you are one of them — time to retire and more on –I really think that former President Trump knew that he was doomed from all the HATE IN Washington DC and in Congress — your motions showed it daily —