House Democrats’ impeachment managers are calling on former President Donald Trump to testify under oath in the Senate’s 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, “I think it’s a terrible idea.”
Sen COONS on the idea of former-Pres Trump testifying as a part of the Senate impeachment trial: “I think it's a terrible idea.”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 4, 2021
Q: Why?
COONS: “Have you met President Trump?”
*elevator doors close*
When asked for an explanation, Coons asked, “Have you met President Trump?”
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) also did not seem to keen on the idea as he said, “That’d be a dog and pony show.” However, he did not say whether he would support a subpoena.
Sen Manchin says of the idea that Trump testifies before a Senate trial: “That’d be a dog and pony show.”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 4, 2021
Says, “we’ll see,” on whether he would support a subpoena.
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.
“I write to invite you to provide your testimony under oath, either before or during the Senate impeachment trial, concerning your conduct on January 6,” Raskin wrote. “We 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.”
He added, “If 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.”
Democrats were not the only ones who were not supportive of the idea. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, “I don’t think that would be in anybody’s interest.”
“Just cause it’s just a nightmare for the country to do this, it’s just a political showboat move to do this, and they didn’t call him in the House,” he added.
And Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said having Trump testify would simply be “partisan theater.”
The former president’s defense team told NBC News’ Kristen Welker that Trump would not testify before the Senate.
