VERIFY: Yes, Donald Trump can be subpoenaed to testify at his impeachment trial
Former President Donald Trump declined to speak with Congress. The Verify team asked experts if lawmakers have any legal standing to make him testify. Author: Katrina Neeper Updated: 4:59 PM EST February 12, 2021
WASHINGTON Social media is full of misinformation. The Verify team exists to cut through the clutter and bring you the facts.
There’s a lot of attention on the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump. The former president declined a request from House impeachment maanagers to speak at the trial. And that lead to questions on social media.
Ted Cruz, one of the GOP senators, said that senators are not jurors, but the oath of impartiality that senators take before impeachment trials makes the issue sound confusing.
Process:
As the Senate impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump moves closer to an actual vote, there is a lot of discussion of the possible results on social media.
Many have indicated that they want the vote to be secret or anonymous so lawmakers can vote their conscience without fear of political backlash. I know it won t happen, wrote one user on Twitter. But the impeachment vote should be by secret ballot.
The idea has been mentioned by lawmakers as well, including Democrat Sen. Ed Markey from Massachusetts.
If the impeachment vote was a secret vote, Republicans would convict Trump without question. The problem is they re too cowardly to do what they know is right. Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) February 10, 2021
Process:
In response to the dramatic visuals spreading on social media of a mob breaking into the U.S. Capitol, many have started to direct the blame towards President Trump.
Multiple Democratic lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, are now calling for his immediate removal through either an impeachment hearing or the 25th Amendment.
What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by President Trump.
This president must not hold office one day longer. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 7, 2021
The Verify team is looking into whether such an action would disqualify President Trump from running yet again in 2024.
Craig Albert, a political professor at Augusta University in Georgia
Jonathan Diaz, a legal counsel at the Campaign Legal Center
Process:
A small part of the electoral college process, which typically is uneventful and unwatched by the majority of the country, exploded into violence Wednesday afternoon.
The protests temporarily shut down the joint session of Congress, as lawmakers started the count of the Electoral College votes. Late Wednesday night, the counting process was set to resume, prompting a question from many:
When this Congressional count is over, does President Trump have any legal path forward that would keep him in office?