Meet the impeachment officials who will plead the Democrats against Trump

Nine members of Congress, appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, will soon cross the Capitol and deliver the arraignment article against former President Trump in the Senate. These members, known as impeachment officials, will continue the case against the former Senate speaker.

Pelosi said the House would officially send the article of impeachment against Mr. Trump to the Senate on Monday. “We respect the constitutional power of the Senate over the trial and always pay attention to the fairness of the process, noting that the former president will have had the same time to prepare for the trial as our leaders,” Pelosi said in a statement on Saturday. “Our managers are ready to begin presenting their case to 100 Senate jurors throughout the trial.”

The House voted on Jan. 13 to impeach Mr. Trump for inciting insurgency, just a week after a crowd of supporters of the president stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attack that left five dead .

The group of Democrats, all of whom have legal expertise, will be led by a member of Congress Jamie raskin, who is a lawyer from Maryland. Raskin will read the only article of impeachment against Mr. Trump in the Senate on Monday evening.

“Donald John Trump thus justifies the impeachment and the trial, the dismissal of his functions and the disqualification to occupy and enjoy any office of honor, confidence or profit in the United States”, declares the article of impeachment .

None of those responsible for impeaching that trial argued the case in Mr. Trump’s first impeachment trial, when the Senate acquitted the former president for obstruction of justice and abuse of power. For this year’s trial, Pelosi has selected a diverse group of members of the House, including Congressman Joe Neguse, who will be the youngest impeachment official in US history.

The composition of managers is different from that of previous Senate trials. In 1999, when former President Bill Clinton was impeached, there were 13 indictments, all male and white. In Mr. Trump’s 2020 impeachment trial, Pelosi appointed just seven members led by Congressmen Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

The upcoming trial, which comes about a year after former Mr. Trump’s first impeachment trial, is scheduled to begin the week of February 8. Democrats will need their 50 senators and 17 Republican senators to cross the aisle to convict Mr. Trump.

Impeachment officials will testify that Mr. Trump instigated the January 6 riot to block certification of the electoral college results.

Jamie Raskin, Senior Manager

Raskin, a key member of the House Judiciary Committee and Rules Committee, drafted the indictment article for “inciting insurgency” with two other managers as he took refuge in the riot January 6. Recently, the Democrat of Maryland introduced a bill in the House, urging former Vice President Mike Pence to activate the 25th Amendment. Raskin, whose 25-year-old son died at the end of 2020, said he decided to take a leadership role in this impeachment trial because “I will not lose my son at the end of 2020 and my country and my republic. in 2021. “Prior to joining Congress, Raskin was a Senator for the State of Maryland and Professor of Constitutional Law at the American University Washington College of Law.

Diana DeGette

Congresswoman Diana DeGette has been a member of Congress representing Colorado for 13 years. This will be her second involvement in an indictment since she chaired Mr. Trump’s first impeachment debate in the House. In an interview with CBS Denver, DeGette said, “We have to end this, we have to condemn him and make sure he can never run for office again.” Prior to serving in Congress, DeGette was a civil rights lawyer and served two terms at Colorado House.

David Cicillin

Congressman David Cicilline, a Democrat from Rhode Island, is adjusting his goal of focusing on big tech to taking Mr. Trump as impeachment official. He was one of three impeachment officials to draft the article of impeachment as a crowd stormed the Capitol. “The president is a clear and present danger to our republic. We will hold him accountable,” Cicillin said in a statement. He is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Chairman of the Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law subcommittee. Prior to serving in Congress, Cicillin was a public advocate in the District of Columbia and held several government positions in the state of Rhode Island.

Joaquin castro

Congressman Joaquin Castro, the Democrat from Texas who has been one of Mr. Trump’s most vocal critics, will help pursue the case against the former president in the Senate trial. Castro said during the recent House impeachment debate, “Donald Trump is the most dangerous man to ever occupy the Oval Office.” He asked the Republicans: “What do you think they [rioters] would have done if they had entered? What do you think they would have done to you? Who do you think sent them here? Castro sits on the House Intelligence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee. He led the Hispanic caucus during the last Congress and opposed Mr. Trump’s immigration policy. Prior to his time in Congress, he served in the Texas Legislature. and as a lawyer in private practice Castro graduated from Harvard Law School.

Eric Swalwell

Congressman Eric Swalwell, another staunch critic of Mr. Trump during his presidency, will use his background as a prosecutor to bring the case against the former president to the Senate. He was heavily involved in the first impeachment trial since serving on the House Intelligence Committee. “I swear to work with the impeachment team to present a case to the Senate for conviction and removal,” Swalwell said in a statement.

Ted Location

Congressman Ted Lieu, a 2014 Democrat from California, led the impeachment article drafting and sponsorship effort along with Raskin and Cicilline. “The best way to heal and unify our nation is to hold accountable those who attacked the capital and those who instigated this attack. It starts at the top and starts with Donald Trump,” Lieu said last week in Nancy Cordes from CBS News. He sits on the House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committee. Prior to his time in Congress, Lieu joined the Air Force Corps of Judge Advocate General and is still a member of the Air Force Reserve. He also held several positions in the state government of California during his career.

Stacey plaskett

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett will bring her legal education and experience to her role as impeachment officer at the upcoming trial. She represents the U.S. Virgin Islands, which means she hasn’t had a chance to vote for impeachment. From now on, she will have the chance to plead the case against the former president of the Senate. In a statement on his role as the impeachment official, Plaskett said, “Donald J. Trump has been and continues to be a clear and present danger to our republic, our constitution and the people of this nation. I will do my duty … and stand up for our blessed country. “She sits on the House Ways and Means Committee and was previously a lawyer in the Bronx and a lawyer in the Department of Justice.

Madeleine Dean

Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, Democrat of Pennsylvania, is a member of the Judiciary Committee and will bring her extensive legal and ethical experience to her role as prosecutor. “The removal of Donald Trump is the start of restoring decency and democracy,” Dean said during the House impeachment debate. Dean was first elected in 2018 when Democrats regained a majority in the House.

Joe neguse

Congressman Joe Neguse, 36, is a rising star in the Democratic caucus and sits on the House Judiciary Committee. Previously, he was a litigator in a private law firm. Neguse is the first African American to represent Colorado and will bring his legal training to his role as impeachment official. “We have a solemn task to perform. And we will live up to the occasion,” Neguse said of his new role as impeachment official.