Democrats call on Trump to testify under oath at impeachment

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Josh Marcus
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<p>Trump supporters storm the US Capitol in his name on 6 January.</p> (EPA-EFE)

Trump supporters storm the US Capitol in his name on 6 January.

(EPA-EFE)

Democrats sent former president Trump a letter on Thursday calling on him to testify under oath at his upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate, after the president maintained a defiant tone in opening legal briefs.

"You have thus attempted to put critical facts at issue notwithstanding the clear and overwhelming evidence of your constitutional offense," congressman Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager, wrote in the letter.

The House impeachment managers asked the president to testify before or during the trial, said he would subject to cross-examination, and noted past presidents like Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton have testified while in office.

"If you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions (and inaction) on January 6, 2021," they added in the letter.

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