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Trump’s Impeachment Defense Asked For The Witnesses It Didn’t Want

On the first day of the president’s defense in the Senate impeachment trial, Trump’s lawyers argued that the case turned on facts no one had been allowed to hear. That was supposed to be a shield. Instead, it reinforced Democratic demands for witnesses and documents, and it made the White House’s refusal to let key officials testify look more suspicious, not less.

Why it matters: Backfired defense

First recorded Jan 25, 2020·Meaningfully updated Jan 25, 2020

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Trump’s Impeachment Defense Asked For The Witnesses It Didn’t Want

On the first day of the president’s defense in the Senate impeachment trial, Trump’s lawyers argued that the case turned on facts no one had been allowed to hear. That was supposed to be a shield. Instead, it reinforced Democratic demands for witnesses and documents, and it made the White House’s refusal to let key officials testify look more suspicious, not less.

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Trump’s Impeachment Defense Asked For The Witnesses It Didn’t Want

On the first day of the president’s defense in the Senate impeachment trial, Trump’s lawyers argued that the case turned on facts no one had been allowed to hear. That was supposed to be a shield. Instead, it reinforced Democratic demands for witnesses and documents, and it made the White House’s refusal to let key officials testify look more suspicious, not less.

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