Former President Trump’s defense attorney David Schoen at Friday’s impeachment trial accused Democrats of using violent rhetoric during the civil unrest over the summer of 2020.
Schoen played two videos showing Democrats pleading with their supporters to hit the streets and protest. Some of the protests turned violent or destructive in Minneapolis, Portland and Seattle.
The Trump lawyer argued Democrats were being hypocritical in arguing that Trump incited the mob to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6 given the rhetoric from some Democrats.
“The House managers spoke about rhetoric, a constant drumbeat of heated language … we need to show you some of their own words,” Schoen said.
In the video, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is shown saying: “I don’t know why there aren’t uprisings all over the country and maybe there will be.”
When asked about the destructive elements of the protests, Pelosi responded: “People will do what they do.”
A state representative from Michigan, Cynthia Johnson, lost her committee seats for saying: “This is just a warning to you Trumpers: Be careful. Walk lightly … and for those of you who are soldiers … make them pay.”
There was also a montage of Democrats saying they’d like to beat Trump up.
“If we were in high school, I’d take him behind the gym and beat the hell out of him,” President Biden said.
“I think you need to go back and punch him in the face,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.).
Schoen also played a montage of Democrats pledging to “fight” to argue that they are misconstruing Trump’s own use of the word out of proportion. Some of that footage was standard political rhetoric, with various officeholders vowing to fight for voters in Washington.
Five people died in connection with the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, when Capitol Police were overwhelmed by a mob that forced the evacuation of Congress as they counted the Electoral College vote.
Many in the crowd were whipped up by weeks in which Trump and his allies had made unfounded allegations that widespread election fraud cost Trump an election win to Biden.
The House voted to impeach Trump for inciting the mob, and the Senate is expected to vote Saturday on whether to convict him.