Democrats to penalize Trump for not testifying at impeachment trial

by Susan Ampers

• Democrats threatened to punish the former President Donald Trump for not testifying at the impeachment trial that began Tuesday.
• Trump rejected calls from Democrats and refused to answer questions under oath when the House invited him to voluntarily testify.
• Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland (D-MD), suggested Trump to provide his testimony from February 8 to February 11.
• However, Trump’s lawyers claimed that the Democrats rushed the impeachment. The procedural conventions governing impeachment in the house were disobeyed.
• The Democrats, nonetheless, denied the claim. Raskin attacked Trump by stating that a sitting president might raise concerns but that is obviously not applicable this time.
• Raskin wrote and invited the 45^th president of the United States: “We therefore anticipate your availability to testify.”
• The Democrat threatened Trump that if he declines the invitation, they reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial and that his refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding his actions and inaction.
• Trump’s Lawyers called Raskins request a “public relations stunt” and he cannot prove his accusations against Trump, who is now a private citizen.
• Likewise, constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley observed that Raskin’s declaration contradicts not just the constitutional principles but centuries of legal writing.”
• Turley added that Raskin’s statement conflicts with one of the most precious and revered principles in American law that a refusal to testify should not be used against an accused party. Thus, Trump’s silence or refusal should not be used against him.
• The Senate impeachment trial starts on February 9 and will last several days to decide if Trump will be convicted for “incitement of inresurrection.”

Additional Info:

Breitbart News: Democrats Threaten to Punish Trump for not Testifying