With his future political career on the line but no sign that his GOP support is unraveling, President Donald Trump stepped away from watc...
With his future political career on the line but no sign that his GOP support is unraveling, President Donald Trump stepped away from watching his impeachment trial to hit the links at his West Palm Beach golf course Thursday.
In exclusive photos obtained by DailyMail.com, the former president can be seen in a white golf shirt during an afternoon golf outing. He has been a regular on the course relocating to Mar-a-Lago January 20th after refusing to concede the election and skipping President Joe Biden's inauguration.
The former president arrived at his Trump National Golf Club before 1 pm, and spent hours on the course even as Democratic managers made the case that rioters who 'desecrated' the Capitol were 'following his orders.'
He could be seen putting on the 14th hole of the course more than three hours into his game, indicating he was playing at a leisurely pace.
Trump's outdoor recreation came on a day when House managers serving as the prosecution finished presenting their case.
Former President Donald Trump went golfing, almost as soon as day three of his impeachment trial began, at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla.
FORE MORE YEARS: The Senate will vote to deny Trump the ability to hold public office if he is convicted of 'incitement of insurrection'
Trump lawyer David Schoen did an interview with Fox News while the trial was going on and in the midst of manager Ted Lieu's presentation. He said on Friday people would see 'the hypocrisy in some of the positions taken by some of the House managers' in the case.
Schoen accused Democrats of making 'movies' and called them 'offensive' to the nation's 'healing process' – in reference to security footage showing Vice President Mike Pence being hustled out of the building, staffers scurrying for safety, and rioters smashing their way into the building.
In addition to getting on the airwaves, Trump's lawyers got the benefit of advice from people sitting effectively as jurors in the court of impeachment. They met with Republican senators including Trump loyalists Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham Thursday.
Cruz, who has argued cases before the Supreme Court and who backed challenges to overturn the vote in states Trump lost, said the meeting was to discuss 'strategy for tomorrow.'
'We were discussing their legal strategy and sharing our thoughts,' Cruz told Capitol reporters. He said the job of Trump's lawyers is to prove that Trump's conduct didn't satisfy the legal status of 'high crimes and misdemeanors.'
Schoen said the confab was to discuss 'procedure,' and blasted the prosecution's use of video of the MAGA riot.
He said 'playing over and over again what happened at the Capitol when everyone has condemned what happened' amounted to 'political weaponization.'
Graham is the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee and speaks regularly with Trump. His call to Ivanka Trump pleading with her to persuade her father to get rioters to leave the Capitol was featured in the trial, where no witnesses have been called.
Trump stayed off the course for the opening day of the trial Tuesday, 'quietly watching' according to one account but 'extremely frustrated' at his own lawyers' performance. He also stayed away Wednesday.
It was on Wednesday when Democrats laid out the substance of their case – including shocking video that showed Trump's supporters attacking police while hurling expletives at them as well during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
On Thursday, House managers developed more nuanced arguments tracing back Trump comments at rallies extending back year where they said he egged on his supporters to engage in violence and celebrated them when it happened.
There were still videos that could have grabbed his attention – including rioters saying they were 'invited' to the Capitol by Trump, a point managers stressed while accusing him on 'incitement of insurrection.'
The managers did show more clips of supporters clad in Trump gear busting through windows and menacing people inside the Capitol.
Trump himself didn't wear a MAGA hat Thursday, instead wearing a hat and shirt featuring his family crest
Trump had stayed off the course for the opening day of the trial Tuesday, but was back on the course on Thursday
Trump himself didn't wear a MAGA hat Thursday, instead wearing a hat and shirt featuring his family crest, revealed years ago to have been lifted from another coat of arms.
Trump's impatience with the trial may have been shared by many of Republicans serving in effect as jurors on the prosecution's second day. Some were absent from the floor, others were seen doing tasks. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida was even spotted filling in country names on a map.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) during his presentation noted that Trump declined to answer questions, but offered a few he would have asked, including why didn't he immediately send forces to help or ask his supporters to stop.
As a former president, Trump continues to enjoy Secret Service protection, and members of his detail could be seen stowing away rifles that were stored in vehicles that make up his motorcade.
He also enjoys other perks including an office and staff – and as of this week has the right to seek another four years in office. The Senate could vote to bar Trump from holding public office in the future if he is convicted on a two-thirds vote, which continues to look like a tall order.
''You know I'm not afraid of Donald Trump running again in four years,' said California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu during his trial presentation. 'I'm afraid he's going to run again and lose, because he can do this again.'
On Friday, it will be the turn of Trump's lawyers again, and they are indicating they don't plan to use their full 16 hours, possibly wrapping up their presentation in a single day.
No comments