As I write this, the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump is underway.

Whatever unfounded arguments distractions Trump’s ever-changing legal “team” trots out — from the absurd contention that he can’t be convicted because he’s no longer in office, to the foolish allegation that the First Amendment somehow permitted him to foment an insurrection and essentially anoint himself king — Trump is guilty.

Trump, like every president before him, took this oath upon his inauguration:

“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

• By lying — egregiously and repeatedly — about the results of an election he lost ...

• By trying to bully state officials into overturning the election ...

• By inciting a murderous, seditionist mob to storm the U.S. Capitol — where they were, in some cases, just moments away from possibly capturing, torturing, or even executing members of Congress and the Vice President ...

• By refusing — for the first time in our nation’s history, which has seen no shortage of political and cultural division — to facilitate a peaceful transition of power ...

Donald Trump clearly failed to uphold his duty to the Constitution as spelled out in the oath he swore when he became president.

Trump’s fate now rests with the 100 members of the United States Senate, who take an oath of their own when they assume office:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

One phrase stands out: “... against all enemies, foreign and domestic ...”

Please join me in delivering this critical message to every senator:

Donald Trump is, unequivocally and unrepentantly, guilty of inciting an insurrection — against the United States government and the Constitution — on January 6.

You swore an oath to defend that Constitution — even if it is under attack from within our own borders, even (perhaps especially) if it is under attack from within the White House.

You must convict Donald Trump.

If you’ve already taken action on Trump’s unprecedented second impeachment, take action again today. Senators can’t hear from the American people enough on something so fundamental to the survival of our democracy.

Thank you for taking action.

For justice,

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

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