The House’s lead impeachment manager delivered a moving message that comes as he grapples with his family’s loss and the president’s looming trial
“It’s not going to happen,” Raskin told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”
“This was the most serious presidential crime in the history of the United States of America. The most dangerous crime by a president ever committed against the United States,” he told Tapper.
The congressman also said that House Democrats will transmit the article of impeachment to the Senate “soon,” an action that will eventually result in the start of Trump’s impeachment trial.
“I know that (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) also considers the President a clear and present danger to the republic,” Raskin said.
Raskin, who is one of nine House impeachment managers, also addressed his party’s decision to pursue a Senate conviction of an outgoing president, arguing Trump must be held accountable for his role inciting the violent mob on January 6.
“I don’t think anybody would seriously argue that we should establish a precedent where every president on the way out the door has two weeks or three weeks or four weeks to try to incite an armed insurrection against the union or organize a coup against the union, and if it succeeds, he becomes a dictator, and if it fails, he’s not subject to impeachment or conviction because we just want to let bygones be bygones,” he said.
But pressed by Tapper on whether the Democratic impeachment managers would seek witnesses for the impending trial, Raskin declined to give specifics.
“We’re putting together a trial plan, which is designed to get the truth of all of these events out,” Raskin said. “Obviously, we’re not going to be able to tell everyone’s story, but we are going to be able to tell the story of this attack on America and all of the events that led up to it.”
Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader who will soon become majority leader, said last week that Trump’s trial can “begin immediately” if an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can be reached — but the Kentucky Republican has made clear that the trial won’t start until after January 19.
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This story has been updated with additional details Sunday.
CNN’s Paul LeBlanc contributed to this report.