Donald Trump rages at his defense attorneys after 'rambling' opening speech praising Democrats and admitting he lost election caused Republican Bill Cassidy to vote with Democrats for trial to go ahead - but ex-president is still on track for acquittal
The Senate will move forward with its trial against Donald Trump on Wednesday
The upper chamber voted 56-44 on Tuesday evening that impeaching a former president is constitutional
Six Republicans joined the 50 Democrats in deciding to progress the proceedings forward, despite Trump's almost assured acquittal in the Senate
Those who voted with Democrats were Republican Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney , Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Pat Toomey and most surprising of all, Bill Cassidy
Cassidy previously agreed with Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and 43 other Republicans that impeaching an official who is no longer in office is against the Constitution
The second impeachment trial against Donald Trump kicked off with Democrats playing a video about the January 6 MAGA riot at the Capitol, focusing on the violence and featuring Trump's words
'You ask what a high crime and misdemeanor is under our constitution? That's a high crime and misdemeanor,' Lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin said
Trump attorney Bruce Castor started off his defense of the former president with a rambling soliloquy that veered between name-dropping senators and flattery
'You know, senators of the United States, they are not ordinary people. There are extraordinary people in the technical sense, extraordinary people,' Castor said
Trump will take a break from golfing this week to closely follow his second impeachment trial on TV from his Mar-a-Lago residence
The trial could run straight through the weekend – with a potential conviction vote on Monday; Trump is expected to be acquitted
Trump was put off when Castor tipped his hat to the Democratic managers' presentation, calling it 'well done'
By Katelyn Caralle, U.S. Political Reporter and Emily Goodin, Senior U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.com and Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor For Dailymail.com
Published: 13:07 EST, 9 February 2021 | Updated: 07:09 EST, 10 February 2021
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