Schiff is now comparing Trump’s impeachment trial to Nixon’s and Clinton’s, saying the findings which led to the Trump case were more harmful than the other two cases. What has changed since those cases, then, asks Schiff. “We have,” he says.
This is a full-throated criticism of Republicans, though Schiff doesn’t name them specifically, he is passionate in describing how he thinks Trump has been destructive to the country and what will happen if senators don’t impeach him simply because they are in the same party.
Schiff says it must have been a “pleasant shock” to Trump to learn “our norms” have shifted so much.
“I hope and pray we never have a president like Donald Trump in the Democratic party,” Schiff says. And if we do, “I hope we would impeach him,” he says.
“History will not be kind to Donald Trump – I think we all know that,” Schiff says.
Schiff says this isn’t because “never-Trumpers” will be writing the history books, but because history doesn’t reflect well on people who violate norms. The president’s collective violations of norms, not just the Ukraine business, is a running theme of Schiff’s statement.
“What we do here, in this moment, will affect its course and its correction. Every single vote, even a single vote, by a single member, can change the course of history.”
“Is there one among you who will say: enough?”
Schiff has decided the defense’s argument that people are calling for impeachment because they don’t like the president isn’t too important to challenge and repeatedly criticizes the president. “You are decent, he is not who you are,” Schiff says.
In his final sentences, Schiff says: “They gave you a remedy and they meant for you to use it.”
The trial is adjourned.
