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- Democratic impeachment officials continued to make their case in Trump’s second impeachment trial.
- Impeachment officials shared previously unseen security footage of the insurgency.
- After the videos, senators across the aisle offered emotional reactions to the scenes.
- Visit Insider’s Business section for more stories.
On day two of former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial, Democratic impeachment officials shared a treasure trove of never-before-seen video footage from inside the Capitol on January 6.
Yesterday the Senate voted the impeachment trial constitutional, and on Wednesday Democrats continued to argue that Trump incited an insurgency against the U.S. government.
Videos released Wednesday included body camera footage of police officers who were assaulted inside and outside the Capitol and security camera footage from inside the building. Video showed Capitol Hill cop Eugene Goodman sprinting towards Sen. Mitt Romney, leading him down a hallway away from the looming crowds.
Impeachment chief Jamie Raskin argued today that Trump ordered rioters to storm Capitol Hill. “He told them to fight like hell and they brought us hell,” Raskin said. Other lawmakers offered emotional reactions to videos and between sessions or showed their emotions as they stood on trial jurors.
Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma
After watching video of Capitol Hodges being run over in a doorway by rioters, Lankford told reporters, “It’s painful to see … Who in God’s name is thinking, ‘I’m going to show that I’m right by crashing into the Capitol’? Who would do that?” The senses. Dick Durbin and Kirsten Gillibrand reportedly looked away when Hodges was crushed in the video.
Andrew Desiderio, journalist for Politico, says that Lankford was “incredibly shaken” and appeared to have tears in his eyes, Senator Steve Daines of Montana comforting him and holding his arm. Lankford also reportedly looked down and shook his head after watching a video of Ashli Babbitt being shot outside the Chamber’s bedroom.
New York Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
One of the videos, paired with graphical mapping of the locations of senators and rioters, showed Schumer closing in on the crowd’s path before turning and running away with aids.
“I don’t think a lot of us feel like having dinner,” Schumer told NBC News during the trial’s dinner break.
Sen. Mitt Romney from Utah
Senator Mitt Romney was one of the senators who admitted Wednesday that he was unaware of the crowd’s proximity to him until he saw the security footage.
When asked about Agent Goodman, Romney said, “I can’t wait to thank him the next time I see him,” adding that he’s been very lucky. Romney also said the video presentation was “extremely distressing and moving.”
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
Senator Graham called the presentation and the images “hypocritical”. He showed anger at the footage and said Capitol Police had the right to use lethal force against rioters.
“I got angry. I mean, these police officers had every right to use lethal force. They should have used it,” he told reporters on Capitol Hill. “The people responsible for securing the Capitol have let the country down.”
His. Lisa Murkowski from Alaska
Senator Lisa Murkowski said those responsible for the impeachment made “a strong point”.
“We went through this once and it was horrible. And now we live with a more complete timeline. I’m angry. I’m disturbed. I’m sad,” Murkowski told reporters outside the Senate chambers. “I don’t see how Donald Trump could be reelected as president again.”
Read more: Meet the little-known power player with the ‘hardest job’ on Capitol Hill. It shapes Trump’s impeachment trial and Joe Biden’s agenda.
Senator Susan Collins from Maine
Speaking to reporters about the atmosphere in the Senate, Collins said, “It was extremely quiet – you could have heard a pin drop.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts
Emily Cochrane, a reporter for the New York Times, said Elizabeth Warren gripped her armrest with her right hand, and then started playing with her fingers while being screened videos early in the day.
Senator Warren later told reporters at the pool that, “It was so hard to watch people who were terrified, people who were hurt, by people who were threatened.” And then try to make eye contact with the Republicans who just wanted to look away. “
Senator Bill Cassidy of Iowa
During a video showing the attack on the House chamber, Senator Cassidy allegedly bowed her head according to Lisa Desjardins, a reporter for PBS NewsHour. Cassidy then shook her head while listening to the police audio, and according to the Wall Street Journal’s Eliza Collins, Cassidy frequently put her hands in a prayerful motion while watching subsequent videos.
Senator Rob Portman of Ohio
Senator Rob Portman was also moved after reviewing the footage, he told reporters at the pool he felt like “reliving a horrible day, a horrible day”.
Portman added that he spoke to staff members after realizing the danger many of them face being barricaded in rooms.
“It’s not easy. I talked to some of the management staff, and they were, you know, in their offices, and people were knocking on doors. And it was, it was a lot scarier.” , said Portman.
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