Trump's second impeachment trial: Day 2

By Melissa Macaya, Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha, Melissa Mahtani and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 11:41 p.m. ET, February 10, 2021
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5:58 p.m. ET, February 10, 2021

GOP senators shaken by footage, but still signal they are unlikely to change their minds

From CNN's Manu Raju 

Several GOP senators say the footage played by House managers throughout the afternoon was chilling and they are shaken by what they saw, but are signaling they won’t change their plans to vote to acquit former President Trump in the impeachment case. 

Here's what some GOP senators said:

  • When asked if he was shaken, Sen. Mike Braun told CNN, "Same way that I was before." He added it's hard to vote to convict “when you think the process is flawed in the first place."
  • Sen. Ron Johnson said he was shaken, but added that he blames the rioters, not Trump.
  • Sen. John Cornyn, usually very talkative, told CNN, “I’ve got nothing for you now.”
  • Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who is likely to convict, said on camera “that the evidence that was presented thus far is pretty damning.” Asked if she’s concerned about the ramifications if the Senate doesn’t bar Trump from running again, she said, “I don’t see how Donald Trump could be re-elected to the presidency.”

5:49 p.m. ET, February 10, 2021

Pence laying low as relationship with Trump remains damaged

From CNN's Jim Acosta and Pamela Brown

Advisers to former President Trump say he has not expressed remorse for the siege at the Capitol. That may be important for Senate jurors to consider after House impeachment managers released new video of the violent mob's assault on Jan. 6. 

One of the new clips show Vice President Mike Pence and his family being hustled away by Secret Service agents as the siege was under way. That affirms what Pence aides told CNN in the days following Jan. 6. Some of those aides were outraged with Trump believing he had put his own vice president in danger. 

Pence, who plans to keep laying low during the impeachment trial, has not quite patched up his relationship with Trump after what happened, according to a person familiar with the situation. 

Another person familiar with the former vice president's thinking, says Pence is lying low and there are no plans as of now for him to react or respond to the new video of him leaving the chamber and replay of the threats against him on Jan. 6. The source says as of a few days ago, Democrats had not been in contact with Pence regarding the possibility of him being a witness in the trial.

The source said Pence and Trump “discussed everything” that happened on Jan. 6. But at the time, the source said, both men were more focused on just getting to Jan. 20. 

“He got his point across at the meeting afterward,” the source said of Pence, noting there were some lingering hard feelings.

Trump did not express remorse for putting Pence in a harrowing situation at the meeting, the source added, saying, “That’s not his style." 

But the source said it is likely both men will be able to move on after the events surrounding Jan. 6, saying, “time will heal things." 

A source close to Trump who has discussed the impeachment case with him acknowledged the facts are "really bad" for the former president. 

6:06 p.m. ET, February 10, 2021

Swalwell closes presentation with video of DC police officer being crushed against a door

From CNN's Jason Kurtz

Senate TV
Senate TV

House impeachment managers saved one of their most compelling pieces of evidence for the final moments before the trial broke for dinner.

"I'm sorry I have to show you the next video," said House impeachment manager Eric Swalwell, adding "but in it you will see how blessed we were that on that hellish day we had a peacemaker like Officer [Daniel] Hodges protecting our lives."

Swalwell then added, "may we do all we can in this chamber to make sure that never happens again," before closing his notes as the video rolled.

During the clip, the DC officer to whom Swalwell referred — DC Police Officer Daniel Hodges — is seen being squeezed in a doorway as armed rioters tear at his mask.

In the video, the relentless crowd of rioters can be heard chanting "Heave, ho! Heave, ho!" while pushing forward in an attempt to breach the entryway to the Capitol.

Hodges, who is positioned at the very front of the police group protecting the building, is audible as he screams in agony amid the insurrectionists' violent pounding.

After the video concluded, Swalwell simply walked away from his lectern.

The Senate then announced a recess.

5:29 p.m. ET, February 10, 2021

The Senate is in a break until 6:15 p.m. ET

The Senate is now in recess for dinner until 6:15 p.m. ET.

The House impeachment managers just showed new violent and graphic security footage of the Capitol riot as part of their case against former President Trump.

They will resume their arguments when the Senate reconvenes.

5:27 p.m. ET, February 10, 2021

Police body camera footage shows rioters attacking officers

US Attorney's Office/Senate TV
US Attorney's Office/Senate TV

House impeachment manager Eric Swalwell just presented body cam footage from one of the police officers attempting to defend the US Capitol.

The video shows rioters attacking the officer outside of the building. A second video from a security camera showed a group of officers barricaded together trying to push back attackers. Swalwell said the rioters in the video attacked officers with "a crutch, a hockey stick, a bullhorn and a Trump flag."

Swalwell also played dispatch audio from the Metropolitan Police Department during the attack.

"MPD officer calls out '10-33,' that's the code for emergency. Officer in need of assistance. His words, we've lost the line," the lawmaker explained.
6:30 p.m. ET, February 10, 2021

Video shows mob's desire to find and harm House Speaker Pelosi

From CNN's Jason Kurtz

Senate TV
Senate TV

New video presented during today's impeachment trial shows rioters' desire to find and attack House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"They sought out the Speaker on the Floor and in her office, publicly declared their intent to harm or kill her, ransacked her office and terrorized her staff," House impeachment manager Stacey Plaskett said, adding "and they did it because Donald Trump sent them on this mission."

After Pelosi was ushered away from the House floor on Jan. 6, "Capitol police deemed the threat so dangerous that they evacuated her entirely from the Capitol complex," Plaskett added.

Plaskett shared social media content posted by one of the rioters to emphasize the insurrectionists' efforts to locate and harm the House Speaker.

"The first of us who got upstairs kicked in Nancy Pelosi's office door and pushed down the halls toward her inner sanctum, the mob howling with rage. 'Crazy Nancy' probably would have been torn into little pieces, but she was nowhere to be seen," said Plaskett, reading from William Calhoun's Facebook account.

Calhoun, a lawyer from Georgia, has since been charged for his role in the Jan. 6th insurrection.

As Plaskett continued her presentation, she offered new video of the mob and its violent attempts to locate Speaker Pelosi.

"Where are you, Nancy? We're looking for you!" bellowed rioters seen in the video. "She's in here," shouted one man, followed by another:

"Nancy? Oh, Nancy? Nancy, where are you, Nancy?"

Watch here:

5:20 p.m. ET, February 10, 2021

Here's what the scene is like inside the Senate chamber as new Capitol riot footage is shown 

From CNN's Sarah Fortinsky and pool reports

The senators from both sides of the aisle sat in rapt attention as the first pieces of Capitol riot video played, and they listened intently as the Democratic impeachment managers played never before heard audio of radio communications from Capitol Police on the day of the insurrection.

When the impeachment managers began their presentation which showed a step-by-step timeline with graphic video of the Capitol riot, many senators strained in their seats to get a better view of the video monitor.

In the back row on the Democratic side, Sens. Mark Warner of Virginia and Michael Bennet of Colorado got out of their seats and stood to watch.

Bennet eventually sat down, but Warner paced behind his seat and stood for several minutes before sitting back down.

As the presentation continued, Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois leaned over and made note of something to Bennet who nodded in agreement. She then put her hands over her head to demonstrate part of her point.

On the Republican side, senators showed little emotion, but they were all paying close attention. Many only turning their heads away from the video screens to take notes.

GOP Sen. Mitt Romney didn’t move when they showed the video of US Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman directing him away from rioters. He has a mask on so hard to see his reaction, just blinking rapidly. But he was watching intently.

6:33 p.m. ET, February 10, 2021

Security video shows how close Senate leader Schumer came to the mob

Senate TV
Senate TV

House impeachment manager Rep. Eric Swalwell played new security video from inside the Capitol showing how current Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had a "near miss with the mob" on Jan. 6.

"They came within just yards of rioters," Swalwell said, while playing footage of then-Senate Minority Leader Schumer and his security detail evacuating.

The video shows Schumer and his team walking up a ramp then, seconds later, running back down the hallway and officers immediately shut the door and "use their bodies to keep them safe," Swalwell said.

Swalwell is presenting now on the Senate floor alongside the other House impeachment managers, and is detailing how close the rioters got to members of the Senate during the insurrection at the Capitol.

Watch the moment:

5:13 p.m. ET, February 10, 2021

Lawmakers removed their congressional pins to hide from the mob

Lawmakers removed their congressional pins as a mob of pro-Trump rioters moved into the Capitol building, House impeachment manager Rep. Eric Swalwell said in his remarks today.

"Out of fear that they would be seen or taken by the mob, my colleagues were telling each other to take off their congressional pins," he said from the Senate floor.

A video from Rep. Dan Kildee, a Democrat from Michigan, showed lawmakers trapped inside the gallery. They can be heard telling each other, "Take your pins off," and "Pins off."