Trump’s legal defense team argued that abuse of power is not an impeachable offense. Instead, it is a “made-up theory” by House Democrats that “would permanently weaken the Presidency by effectively permitting impeachment based merely on policy agreements.
The President’s legal team also stated that obstruction of Congress is also not an impeachable offense but a “frivolous and dangerous” claim. Trump only asserted the legal rights and privileges of the Executive branch against defective subpoenas based on the advice of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The President’s action is not an obstruction, according to his lawyers.
Additionally, Trump’s lawyers described the impeachment inquiry as “irredeemably flawed.” According to them, House Democrats “violated all precedent and due process.” Their goal was “never to ascertain the truth” but to “impeach the President no matter the facts.”
“The Senate should speedily reject these deficient Articles of Impeachment and acquit the President. The only threat to the Constitution that House Democrats have brought to light is their own degradation of the impeachment process and trampling of separation of power,” claimed Trump’s legal defense team.
