Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy on Sunday compared the indictment against former President Trump to a Soviet “show-trial” – but said he would keep an open mind during this week’s Senate trial.
“There was no trial. If it had happened in the Soviet Union, you would have called it a lawsuit, “the Louisiana senator told NBC’s” Meet the Press. “
The Louisiana Republican said the House vote for Trump’s second indictment of “incitement to insurrection” is not a process worthy of US democracy. Cassidy and 44 other Republicans voted to reject the future trial on constitutional grounds.
“He was called two hours before, there was no debate or explanation from both sides. It was a vote based on a moment in time, “Cassidy said.
“Let’s face it, the Chamber did an incredibly poor job building the case before the indictment. The president was not there, he was not allowed to be a lawyer, they did not gather evidence, in five hours they judged and were accused of booming. ”
When asked if his vote for Tuesday’s Senate trial would be predetermined, Cassidy said he would review the evidence.
“No no. I think it depends on what is presented, “he told Chuck Todd. “We will now have hopeful presentations from both sides and consider the evidence as impartial jurors.”
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 ever holding office again.
Trump’s lawyers have claimed that he cannot be indicted because he is no longer in office.
The Senate process will begin on Tuesday.