Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is arguing former President Donald Trump intended for lawmakers to be “intimidated” during the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos mentioned a statement released by Cassidy following his vote to convict Trump on the charge of inciting an insurrection.
“I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty,” the statement reads.
Stephanopoulos asked Cassidy why he believes Trump is guilty and when he decided to vote to convict.
“It was clear that he wished that lawmakers be intimidated,” Cassidy said when discussing the violence at the Capitol.
He continued, “And even after he knew there was violence taking place, he continued to basically sanction the mob being there. And not until later that he actually asked them to leave. All of that points to a motive and a method and that is wrong. He should be held accountable.”
Watch his comments below:
NEW: GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict former Pres. Trump in his second impeachment trial, explains his decision: "It was clear that he wished that lawmakers be intimidated." https://t.co/DZBFQh5kXW pic.twitter.com/tkJy8Mp4g0
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 14, 2021
Cassidy explained to Stephanopoulos that his decision was based on Trump’s interference with a peaceful transfer of power.
“If you describe insurrection as I did, as an attempt to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, we can see the president for two months after the election promoting that the election was stolen,” Cassidy said.
He added, “He then scheduled the rally for January 6, just when the transfer of power was to take place and he brought together a crowd, but the portion of that was transformed into a mob.”
An Associated Press fact check found Trump’s claim of widespread voter fraud to be false.
The Senate voted to acquit Trump on Saturday, as IJR reported. Cassidy joined Democrats and six other Republicans to declare Trump guilty.
Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) were the six other Republicans who voted to convict.
