House Democratsâ Impeachment managers are calling on former President Donald Trump to testify under oath in the Senateâs trial. However, not everyone is in favor of the idea.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) was asked on Thursday if he supports the idea of the former president testifying. He said, âI think itâs a terrible idea.â
When asked for an explanation, Coons asked, âHave you met President Trump?â
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) also did not seem to keen on the idea as he said, âThatâd be a dog and pony show.â However, he did not say whether he would support a subpoena.Â
Their comments come after Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) sent a letter to Trump asking him to testify either before or during the Impeachment trial.
âI write to invite you to provide your testimony under oath, either before or during the Senate Impeachment trial, concerning your conduct on January 6,â Raskin wrote. âWe would propose that you provide your testimony (of course including cross-examination) as early as Monday, February 8, 2021, and not later than Thursday, February 11, 2021.â
He added, âIf you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions (and inaction) on January 6, 2021.â
Democrats were not the only ones who were not supportive of the idea. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, âI donât think that would be in anybodyâs interest.â
âJust cause itâs just a nightmare for the country to do this, itâs just a political showboat move to do this, and they didnât call him in the House,â he added.
And Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said having Trump testify would simply be âpartisan theater.âÂ
The former presidentâs defense team told NBC Newsâ Kristen Welker that Trump would not testify before the Senate.
