Friends -
Every day of the impeachment trial, Senator Murphy is writing a bit about his read of the day’s events. He’ll share his thoughts and insights and try to give some behind-the-scenes vignettes. He wants to make sure the trial is as transparent as possible.
Below are Senator Murphy’s takeaways from Donald Trump’s lawyer’s first day of opening arguments yesterday.
- Team Murphy
Definitely a palpable nervousness as the president’s lawyers began. Many Democratic Senators were worried that their tone would be abrasive and over-the-top. It wasn't. That's a good thing. But will it continue?
A happy coincidence — walking over the Capitol, I ran into my research partner on my upcoming book on violence in America. She is in town to watch the trial. "As an American, I just couldn't miss this," she noted.
I thought the President's lawyers made a compelling case for witnesses. They said little testimony exists of firsthand contact with President Trump. That's true, because the White House has refused to allow people who regularly talk to the president (Mulvaney, Pompeo, etc) to testify.
The President’s team's focus on when Ukraine learned of the aid hold was curious. Sure, maybe they didn't learn until August 28th, but once they learned, it became clear that the aid was dependent on the investigations. Why does it matter when the quid pro quo began?
Remember "half-days" in elementary school. I loved those. Today feels like a half-day. See you all back here Monday.
If you can afford it, please consider making a $3 donation today. Our campaign has some modest fundraising goals to meet, and with the impeachment trial underway, Senator Murphy has no time for fundraising. Your support ensures he can focus on the work we expect him to do. Thank you in advance.
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