The Report: Impeachment, Day 11

On the eleventh day of the impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump, the House Managers and the president’s defense team presented their closing arguments. Each side made their arguments using the facts of the case, the relevant law and impeachment precedent. The president’s defense argued that a vote to remove President Trump was tantamount to undoing the 2016 election and interfering with the upcoming election, and that the House had abused its power throughout the impeachment process. The House Managers argued that President Trump is a danger to national security; that a vote to acquit would effectively destroy separation of powers and remove any check on the power of the presidency; and that, while there is an election in November, there is now nothing to stop the president from interfering in that election or compelling foreign governments to do so.

Over the course of Monday afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday, the senators have the opportunity to deliver their views on the upcoming impeachment vote. But today was the last chance for the House Managers and the president’s counsel to present their cases for and against, respectively, the president’s removal from office. And Lawfare and Goat Rodeo bring you the most essential one hour and 32 minutes of those final arguments.