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IN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SENATE

____________________________________ :

In re:

: :

IMPEACHMENT OF

:

FORMER PRESIDENT

:

DONALD J. TRUMP

:

____________________________________

:

TRIAL MEMORANDUM OF DONALD J. TRUMP, 45TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Bruce L. Castor, Jr., Esquire David Schoen, Esquire Michael T. van der Veen, Esquire

Counsel to the 45

th

President of the United States

February 8, 2021

i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1

II.

STATEMENT OF FACTS RELEVANT TO THE ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT .......... 2

A.

The Single Article Of Impeachment Is Belied By An Analysis Of Mr. Trump’s Spoken

Words To A Crowd Gathered At The Ellipse Four On January 6, 2021. .................................. 4

B.

Democrat Members Of The House Drafted The Article Of Impeachment Before Any Investigation Into The Riot Had Even Started. .......................................................................... 6

C.

The House Managers’ “Statement Of Facts” Outlines A Narrative Irrelevant To The Facts

Alleged In Support Of The Single Article Of Impeachment. .................................................... 7

1.

Law Enforcement Had Reports Of A Potential Attack On The Capitol Several Days

Before President Trump’s Speech.

....................................................................................... 7

2.

The House Managers False Narrative Rests Entirely On Biased And Mischaracterized Reports By The Media And Cherry-Picked, Non-

Contextual Parsing Of Mr. Trump’

s January 6 Speech................................................................................................................. 10

III.

ARGUMENT......................................................................................................................... 13

A.

The Senate Lacks The Constitutional Jurisdiction To Conduct An Impeachment Trial Of A Former President. ................................................................................................................. 13

1.

The Text And Structure Of The Articles Discussing Impeachment Do Not Grant To the Senate the Authority Over A Former President. ........................................................... 14

2.

The Constitution only gives the Senate Jurisdiction over the President, not the

former

President, of the United States. ........................................................................................... 17

ii 3.

The Founders Knowingly Did Not Extend The Power Of Impeachment To Former Officials............................................................................................................................... 20

4.

Historical Precedents .................................................................................................. 23

B.

Congress’ Power To Impose Penalties Upon

Conviction Of Impeachment Is Limited to Removal, And (Not Or) Disqualification. ................................................................................ 30

C.

The Article of Impeachment Violates Mr. Trump’s

First Amendment Rights .............. 37

1.

The Senate Cannot Disregard the First Amendment and the Supreme Court’s Long

-Established Free Speech Jurisprudence .............................................................................. 38

2.

Mr. Trump as an Elected Official Has First Amendment Rights to Freely Engage in Political Speech ................................................................................................................... 41

3.

Mr. Trump’s Speech Was Fully Protected by the First Amendment

......................... 47

4.

Lastly, Mr. Trump’s Figurative Use of the Words “Fight,” “Fighting,” Have Been Used

By Many, None Are Impeachable ...................................................................................... 63

D.

The House Afforded President Trump No Due Process of Law .................................... 66

E.

The Article Is Structurally Deficient and Can Only Result in Acquittal. ...................... 71

F.

The Article Fails to State an Impeachable Offense as a Matter of Law. ........................ 72

IV.

CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................... 74