Former President Donald Trump‘s defense team is responding to the Democratic impeachment managers’ invitation for him to testify under oath before or during the Senate’s impeachment trial.
In a letter responding to the lead impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Trump attorney Bruce Castor wrote, “We are in receipt of your latest public relations stunt. As you certainly know, there is no such thing as a negative inference in this unconstitutional proceeding.”
“Your letter only confirms what is known to everyone: you cannot prove your allegations against the 45th President of the Union States, who is now a private citizen,” he continued.
“The use of our Constitution to bring a purported impeachment proceeding is much too serious to try to play these games.”
Read the letter below:
@maggieNYT got a copy of the prompt reply from Trump lawyers, who calls the invitation to testify a “public relations stunt.” They do not explicitly say "no" tho
— Nicholas Fandos (@npfandos) February 4, 2021
“The use of our Constitution to bring a purported impeachment proceeding is much too serious to play these games." pic.twitter.com/FDDMixhVVh
Castor’s comments come hours after Raskin sent a letter asking Trump to testify under oath, as IJR reported.
In a letter on Monday, Raskin wrote, “In light of your disputing these factual allegations, I write to invite you to provide your testimony under oath, either before or during the Senate impeachment trial, concerning your conduct on January 6.”
“We would propose that you provide your testimony (of course including cross-examination) as early as Monday, February 8, 2021, and not later than Thursday, February 11, 2021,” he added.
Raskin noted that while there are typically concerns that if a sitting president were to take time to provide testimony, it would distract from their official duties.
However, he added, “That concern is obviously inapplicable here.”
He also claimed, “If you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions (and inaction) on January 6, 2021.”
The Senate is scheduled to begin its impeachment trial the week of February 8 to decide whether or not to convict Trump for allegedly inciting the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
However, it is unlikely that there will be enough Republicans willing to defect to provide the required 67-votes for a conviction.