Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy on Sunday compared the impeachment trial against former President Trump to a Soviet “proven trial,” but said he will keep an open mind during the trial in the Senate this week.
“It simply came to our notice then. If you went to the Soviet Union, you would have called it a demonstration trial, “the Louisiana senator told NBC’s” Meet the Press. “
The Louisiana Republican said the House vote to accuse Trump a second time for “inciting insurrection” was not a process worthy of American democracy. Cassidy and 44 other Republicans voted to withdraw the next trial for constitutional reasons.
“It was called two hours earlier, there was no debate or explanation from either side. It was a vote based on a moment in time, “Cassidy said.
“Let’s be honest, the House did an incredibly poor job in building the case before the dismissal vote. The president was not there, he was not allowed a lawyer, they did not gather evidence, in five hours they judged and took the boom. “
When asked if Tuesday’s vote in the Senate trial will be predetermined, Cassidy said she will review the evidence.
“No, no. I think it depends on what is presented, “he told host Chuck Todd.” We will now have lucky presentations from both parties and consider the evidence as impartial juries. “
Democrats say then-President Trump is to blame for the January 6 Capitol violence. If the Senate condemns him (a result that would require a two-thirds vote), Trump could be prevented from returning to office.
Trump’s lawyers have argued that he cannot be charged because he is no longer in office.
The trial in the Senate will begin on Tuesday.