Durbin: We Must Put an End to Donald Trump's 'Big Lie' Once and for All
Ahead of the second impeachment trial for Donald Trump, Durbin argues that no one has a First Amendment right to incite an insurrection against the United States
WASHINGTON – Ahead of the second impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about the important responsibility the Senate has to move forward with this impeachment trial. In his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that no one, not even the President of the United States, has a First Amendment right to say whatever he or she wants—an argument the former President’s lawyers are expected to use. Durbin also honored Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who suffered fatal injuries during the insurrection on January 6.
“America came close to losing this democracy on January 6, for this President’s [Donald Trump] design was to make sure an election didn’t count, that November 3 was ignored. What happened on January 6 was an attempted coup, make no mistake. As others have pointed out, an attempted coup that is not punished is a trial run for the next time,”Durbin said. “Donald Trump’s apologists will come to the floor of the Senate in the next few days and say that he had a First Amendment right to say whatever he wanted, whether it was the truth or not. But no one, not even the President, has a First Amendment right to incite an insurrection against this government. That’s not a right. It’s a crime, a high crime.”
Durbin concluded, “Last Wednesday, Officer Sicknick’s ashes were carried into the Rotunda of the Capitol where we honored him… Brian Sicknick paid with his life. For his sake, for all of those wounded on January 6, and for the safety of our democracy, we have to put an end to Donald Trump’s ‘big lie’ once and for all and look honestly at the culpability of a man who incited this mob to attack Congress, to attack the Constitution, and to attack our way of life.”
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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