- Tuberville says he informed Trump of Pence’s evacuation before rioters reached Senate (Politico) – Sen. Tommy Tuberville revealed late Wednesday that he spoke to Donald Trump on Jan. 6, just as a violent mob closed in on the the Senate, and informed the then-president directly that Vice President Mike Pence had just been evacuated from the chamber.
- Three GOP senators meet with Trump’s lawyers on eve of impeachment defense presentation (CNN) Mike Lee, Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz meet with Trump’s legal team. Cruz said the meeting was an opportunity for “sharing our thoughts” about their legal strategy.
- Schumer leaves door open to 14th Amendment measure to bar Trump from office (Fox News) – Senator Kaine is talking about is a censure resolution that would also specifically include the elements of the 14th Amendment that lead to disqualification from future office.
- Opinion: If Republican senators acquit Trump, they will own the violence that follows (Washington Post) – It has been five years since Trump marveled at his own ability to incite. “I bring rage out,” he told The Post’s Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. “I always have.” If Trumps runs again, his followers will still be raging.
- Max Burns: Trump impeachment trial video means GOP can’t pretend the former president is innocent (NBC News) – Republicans are criticizing Democrats for playing politics with a trial they know will end in acquittal. But the proceedings’ importance goes beyond the outcome.
- Rep. Stefanik demands prosecution of Cuomo, aides after bombshell report on COVID nursing home deaths (Fox News) – Stefanik’s fiery statement followed a bombshell New York Post report alleging that a top Cuomo aide apologized to political damage Democrats suffered over the coronavirus’ nursing home death toll by appearing to blame the delayed release of data, in part, on the Trump administration.
- Managers seek to make GOP think twice about Trump acquittal (The Hill) – The long and haunting narrative was designed to sway public opinion and the history books as much as the Senate jurors. No more than five or six Senate Republicans are expected to vote to convict the former president.
- Missouri newspaper hammers Hawley and Blunt (The Hill) – The St. Louis Post-Dispatch blasted GOP Missouri Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley Thursday over their handling of former President Trump’s impeachment trial, calling it an “embarrassment to the state.”
- Mounting evidence suggests Trump knew of danger to Pence when he attacked him as lacking ‘courage’ amid Capitol siege (Washington Post) – Trump’s decision to tweet that Pence lacked “courage” came 11 minutes after live coverage showed Pence being rushed off the floor and after Trump’s conversation with Tuberville.
- Impeachment offers Republicans grace. They don’t want it. (NY Times) – House managers are treating Trump’s enablers as his victims.
