GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy explains his ‘convict’ vote

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA.) explained his ‘convict’ vote on former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in a column on The Advocate, published on Sunday.
• Cassidy said that based on given facts, Trump was indeed “guilty” of inciting violence that led to the Capitol siege.
• More than 200 arrests were made against Capitol rioters, per the US Justice Department.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA.) wrote an article in the Louisiana newspaper The Advocate on Sunday, explaining his “convict” vote on former President Donald Trump’s impeachment case at the Senate.

“Rather than defending the Constitution, President Trump was actively subverting the peaceful transfer of power, which is a bedrock principle of the Constitution,” Cassidy wrote.

“Even as Vice President Mike Pence was being evacuated to a safe location by Secret Service agents because the mob was approaching the Senate chamber, President Trump was calling Senators trying to block certification,” the senator added.

The GOP senator criticized the ex-president for his inaction when the mob had overwhelmed the US Capitol. Few hours had passed and Trump did not even deploy the National Guard after eventually posting a video online, asking the rioters to go home.

Since Trump did not testify during the whole trial, Cassidy said that in deciding for his judgment, he depended on the timeline of events, the former president’s tweets then and his actions leading up to the siege. 

The Louisiana lawmaker also referred to Trump’s repeated baseless claims of massive voter fraud, winless legal battles against the election results and his rally speech on January 6 before his supporters marched and stormed the Capitol.

“I voted to convict former President Trump because he is guilty. That’s what the facts demand,” he said.

“I have no illusions that this is a popular decision. I made this decision because Americans should not be fed lies about ‘massive election fraud,’ Cassidy continued. “Police should not be left to the mercy of a mob. Mobs should not be inflamed to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.”

In a 57-44 vote last weekend, Trump was acquitted in the upper chamber for the second time as the Senate did not reach at least two-thirds majority vote (additional 10 votes were needed).

Along with the other six GOP senators, Cassidy has earned criticisms for voting to convict the former Republican leader, but he remained firm in his decision because Trump was guilty of inciting the violence and “clearly intended to prevent a peaceful transfer of power.”

Over 200 individuals have been arrested by the Justice Department in connection to the Capitol siege which resulted in five deaths including one Capitol police officer.

Some of those arrested have expressed their move to pinpoint Trump as the mastermind of the riot.

Source: The Hill