Live updates: Trump's 2nd impeachment trial
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The impeachment trial of Donald Trump resumes Saturday morning with closing arguments from both sides. A vote to either convict or acquit the former president on the charge that he incited the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 is expected to follow.
Yahoo News is providing an uninterrupted live stream of the proceedings as well as instant analysis from our reporters at the trial in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.
Tune in here beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
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Christopher WilsonFive Republicans vote yes on witnesses
Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah and Ben Sasse of Nebraska voted with the Democrats initially. After the votes were counted, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina asked to have his vote changed to an aye.
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Dylan Stableford'There’s only one person the president’s counsel needs to interview, and that’s his own client.'
— Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., Democrats' lead impeachment manager, during a debate over calling witnesses
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Christopher WilsonHouse managers ask to subpoena GOP representative
Raskin (via Reuters TV)
As the trial opened Saturday morning, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the Democrats' lead impeachment manager, said he wished to call GOP Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler as a witness.
On Friday evening, the representative from Washington state said that she witnessed a call on Jan. 6 between Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and former President Trump. According to Herrera Beutler, McCarthy was begging Trump to call off the rioters when the president said, "Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are."
In a statement, Herrera Beutler said, “To the patriots who were standing next to the former president as these conversations were happening, or even to the former vice president: if you have something to add here, now would be the time."
The congresswoman was one of 10 Republicans to vote to impeach Trump last month.
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Dylan StablefordMcConnell will vote to acquit Trump
McConnell (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who had told his Republicans colleagues they should vote with their "conscience" on impeachment, informed them in a letter that he will vote to acquit Donald Trump in the former president's trial, Politico reported Saturday.
It's a signal that a conviction is all but impossible, and Trump will almost certainly be acquitted of the charge he incited the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
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Dylan StablefordA recap of day four
• Donald Trump's second impeachment trial resumed Friday with the former president’s defense lawyers arguing against the charge that he incited the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
• They played a 10-minute video montage of Democrats saying the word "fight" hundreds of times to illustrate the "hypocrisy" of the case against Trump.
• The former president's lawyers argued he did not incite the riot with rhetoric that they insisted was protected under the First Amendment.
• During his closing statement, Bruce Castor, one of Trump's lawyers, falsely asserted that there was no insurrection for him to incite.
• Trump's defense team used just three of the 16 hours they were allotted to present its case.
• Despite compelling evidence presented by House Democrats earlier in the week, a conviction still remains unlikely, as 17 Republican senators would have to cross the aisle for the two-thirds majority needed to get one. A final vote could come as early as Saturday afternoon.
• Asked for his thoughts on the trial, President Biden told reporters Friday: "I'm just anxious to see what my Republican friends do — if they stand up."
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Christopher WilsonTrial adjourned until Saturday at 10 a.m. ET
Each side will then have up to two hours to deliver their closing arguments. A final vote is possible Saturday afternoon.
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Christopher WilsonQuestion and answer session ends, Senate honors Goodman
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer noted that all questions had been asked and then began to honor Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman for his heroic acts during the violence of Jan. 6. Goodman, who was in the chamber, received an extended ovation from the members present. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell then spoke in praise of Goodman and his colleagues on the force.
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Kate Murphy'Man, you should have been here on January 6th.'
— Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., responding to Trump defense lawyer Michael van der Veen's comments that the impeachment trial is the "most miserable experience" he's had in D.C.