Former President Donald Trump rejected House Democrats request to testify at his Senate impeachment trial, set to start Feb. 9, over the charge that the incited the violent storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Trump urged his supporters to “fight like hell” to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Shortly after he spoke at a “Stop The Steal” rally on Jan. 6, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in order to interrupt the electoral vote count. The riots resulted in five fatalities.

Trump’s adviser Jason Miller called the trial “an unconstitutional proceeding,” in an attempt to justify Trump’s refusal to testify. Many GOP senators have argued that it is “unconstitutional,” because Trump is not currently president. Additionally, Trump’s lawyers have described the request for him to testify as a “public relations stunt.”

Though Democrats cannot force Trump to testify under oath, they can use his refusal to testify as evidence of his attempt to evade accountability. If Trump is convicted, he could be barred from running for office again.

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Article by Elizabeth Letsou