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Stunning images at Trump trial

The U.S. Senate’s impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump may not result in a conviction. There are enough Republican senators hewing to their party line to prevent the conviction. Their minds were made up before the trial began that they would not vote to convict Trump.

But this trial is far from a waste of time. If nothing else, it has given the people of the United States and the world a much more comprehensive look into the violence and madness of the crowd that overwhelmed Capitol security on Jan. 6 and rampaged through the building. On that day, we mostly watched the scene from network and news service cameras set up outside, or shooting from above. The video evidence presented in the Senate this week was taken from social media, from security cameras inside the capitol and from police body cameras. We could see and hear up close the angry faces, the cursing, the mayhem and the utter disregard for any law but the law of the mob. We could see and hear them hunting through the halls and offices of the capitol, looking for Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and any other member of congress or figure of authority. It was clear what they had in mind if they ever got their hands on them.

Those shocking, horrifying views of the riot are as close as we to get to an insurrection.

The question the senators will have to answer is how responsible Trump is for this attack on our democracy? It is clear he cast false claims and tried hard to overturn the election results. It is clear he called for his supporters to come to Washington on Jan. 6, and it is clear he encouraged them to “fight like hell” for his continued presidency. It is also clear that whether he is held responsible or will be excused will be based on a political decision.

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