Following the shocking attack on Capitol Hill that took place on January 6th, Donald Trump has received hundreds of accusations for inciting rioters to storm into the House of the People and vandalize it mercilessly.
Recently, 232 members from the House of Representatives (including 10 Republicans) have voted for Trump’s second impeachment for ‘incitement to insurrection.’
This is perhaps one of the most followed trials in our country’s recent history; however, few people truly know all the faces fighting for (or against) the accusations. Today, we’re going to have an in-depth look at each key person involved in Trump’s second impeachment trial and how they can determine the outcome of this unprecedented conflict.
Jamie Raskin
Lead impeachment manager for the Democrats
As soon as the impeachment charges (made by the Democrats) will get to the Senate, a team of lawmakers will make the case for the prosecution. This team is led by Jamie Raskin, who has been serving as a Maryland-based Democratic representative since 2017; he has also formerly worked as a professor of constitutional law.
Raskin plays a crucial role in Trump’s second impeachment trial, but this comes at the most difficult time of his life: his 25-year-old son, Tommy Bloom Raskin, had committed suicide on New Year’s Eve. Only one day after the funeral, the grieving father found himself hiding behind a desk as rioters were storming into the Capitol Hill.
The timing of the tragedy in his personal life and the Capitol Hill assault might make Raskin even more determined in court, especially since he said that his son would’ve considered the riot ‘the absolute worst form of crime against humanity.’
Madeleine Dean
Democratic impeachment manager
As I’ve mentioned above, a team of Democrat lawmakers will serve as impeachment managers in Trump’s trial. One of the key members of the nine-member team is Pennsylvania-based representative Madeleine Dean.
Aside from being a university English teacher, Dean also has her own three-woman practice after decades of serving for the state politics. As soon as she was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018, she has led many initiatives for women’s reproductive rights, healthcare for all, gun law reform and other significant projects.
Much like Raskin, Dean also seems very determined to have Donald Trump found guilty for the January 6th riot. According to her, the second impeachment trial ‘isn’t about a party.’
‘This isn’t about politics. This is about protection of our constitution, of our rule of law.’
Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Speaker of the House
Since she’s the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi has been getting plenty of attention since the Jan. 6th riot – but that’s not the only reason.
The 80-year-old Democratic leader of the lower chamber of Congress has been a decisive factor for introducing an article of impeachment against Donald Trump. She was also heavily involved in all procedures required to move forward with the impeachment, especially after former vice-president Mike Pence refused to force out Trump while he was still president.
Through her recent declarations, Nancy Pelosi shows just how determined she is to take action and have Trump suffer the consequences of his words and attitude which have led to the Capitol Hill riot:
‘This president is guilty of inciting insurrection. He has to pay a price for that.’
Mitch McConnell
Republican Senate minority leader
Regardless if you’re a political enthusiast or not, you’ve probably heard the name Mitch McConnell especially over the past few weeks. Why?
Well, this 78-year-old Republican senator based in Kentucky is one of the key people that brought Trump’s acquittal for his first impeachment trial. Just a quick look at his political history reveals that McConnell has also often maneuvered to hinder Obama’s legislative agenda.
During the last few weeks he had served as a Senate leader, McConnell has put in all his efforts to delay Trump’s trial until after he’s no longer president claiming that there was no time for a ‘serious trial’ right before Biden’s inauguration.
Right now, nobody can tell which side of the problem McConnell will support, although some news outlets reported he was ‘pleased’ that the impeachment was going ahead. If one thing’s for sure, though, is that he no longer has the final word on the impeachment.
David Schoen and Bruce Castor Jr.
Donald Trump’s attorneys
Only one week ahead of his second impeachment trial, Donald Trump dismissed his legal team (attorneys Butch Bowers and Deborah Barbier included). The new team is now led by former district attorney Bruce Castor and trial lawyer David Schoen.
Mr. Castor made a recent statement that everyone can agree with – just in different ways:
‘The strength of our Constitution is about to be tested like never before in our history. A document written for the ages, and it will triumph over partisanship yet again, and always.’
While the statement is indeed accurate, the two attorneys strongly believe that Donald Trump’s impeachment is not constitutional.
This isn’t the first time the duo makes headlines, though. They’ve also gained plenty of popularity when they were planning to represent Jeffrey Epstein days before he passed away.
Liz Cheney
Republican House Representative for Wyoming
The 54-year-old daughter of former Vice-President Dick Cheney is now the third-highest-ranking Republican leader in the house. In other terms, Liz Cheney has an important word to say in the impeachment trial.
Last month, she was shockingly close to be ousted from her position after breaking ranks with other lawmakers to impeach Donald Trump after the Capitol Hill Riot. While being heavily involved in the trial, Cheney must also face a new challenger for the Wyoming congressional seat.
This is perhaps her most powerful statement regarding the impeachment trial:
“There has never been a greater betrayal by a president of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.”
Ben Sasse
Republican Senator for Nebraska
You might want to keep this name in mind, as more and more Republicans look at Ben Sasse as a potential candidate for the 2024 Presidential elections.
Sasse has been elected to the Senate back in 2014 and he’s one of the fiercest Trump critics out there. When Donald Trump and his team were desperately trying to overturn the 2020 election results, Sasse firmly opposed every initiative.
To have Donald Trump convicted in the Senate, at least 17 Republicans must vote in favor, including Ben Sasse.
Patrick Leahy
Democratic Senator for Vermont
The first impeachment trial for Donald Trump (which took place in 2020) had been presided by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
However, he declined to attend this second trial, which has left the position to Patrick Leahy – an 80-year-old Democrat based in Vermont.
Notably, Leahy is the longest serving lawmaker of the upper chamber as he has been elected to the Senate in 1974.
Now, he will be serving as the president pro tempore of the senate – a position also known as a constitutional officer who must preside in the absence of a vice-president. Recently, he explained this important role as following:
‘The president pro tempore takes an additional special oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and the laws. It’s an oath that I take extraordinarily seriously.’
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