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 after President Trump told his mob to “get rid of” her: “There’s no question the president formed the mob, the president incited the mob, the president addressed the mob. He lit the flame.” There is thus overwhelming evidence that President Trump committed the “high Crimes and Misdemeanors” charged in the article of impeachment against him. President Trump’s impeachable conduct, exacerbated by his further acts and omissions after he incited the crowd to attack the Capitol, grievously injured the national interests of the United States. It threatened democratic self-governance by interfering with the peaceful transition of power, imperiled a coequal branch of government, endangered our national security, and betrayed his oath of office and the trust of the American people. The insurrection incited by President Trump had a clear goal: attack, menace, obstruct, and ultimately prevent Congress in any way from carrying out its solemn constitutional duty to count the Electoral College vote. In fact, the rioters managed to delay the democratic processes for at least six hours. And, although the Joint Session reconvened and fulfilled its duty that same day, the lasting injury to our nation cannot be overstated.
 * 3. President Trump’s Conduct Harmed Core National Interests
 * a. Attack on Democratic Processes and the Peaceful Transition of Power

At the heart of our Constitution is a commitment to popular sovereignty. At the core of that framework is the election of representatives to the United States Congress and the establishment of the Electoral College as the method of selection for the President and Vice President of the United States. The democratically elected Members of the Congress are charged with legislating and carrying important constitutional duties on behalf of the American people.

Under the Twelfth Amendment and the Electoral Count Act of 1887, the Congress is responsible for counting and the Electoral College votes, while the Vice President, as president of the Senate, plays a ministerial role in the proceedings. In this way, the will of the American people is formally implemented, and the legitimacy to exercise the authorities of the national government bestowed on our elected federal officials. Another purpose of this process is to facilitate the orderly and peaceful transfer of power between elected officials.

The course of conduct President Trump pursued leading up to January 6, 2021 directly sought to undermine that very foundation of our Constitution. His conduct, contrary to our democracy, encouraged and foreseeably resulted in violent chaos aimed to subvert and obstruct the peaceful transfer of power. President Trump for weeks promoted not only false allegations of voter fraud, but the fringe constitutional theory that the Vice President is the sole arbiter of the Electoral College vote. The President then used the rage he had incited to encourage a physical assault on our the Capitol, in the very moments that the peaceful transfer of power administered by our elected officials was underway. In sum, the President’s conduct in inciting an insurrection