Weeks after the Democratic-led House of Representatives impeached former President Donald Trump after his constant lies about the legitimacy of the 2020 election prompted a mob of his supporters to storm the United States Capitol in a deadly failed insurrection.
Weeks later, when the impeachment trial went to the Senate, every Senator signed their name to an oath swearing to act as impartial jurors as both the House impeachment managers and Trump's defense team argued their cases.
Unlike in a court of law, there are no potential legal penalties to Senators who break this oath.
Some of Trump's most vocal supporters in the Senate are taking advantage of this, and at least three of them met with Trump's defense team immediately after the House impeachment managers finished their opening arguments before the chamber.
Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mike Lee (R-UT) were among them, and Graham was spotted quickly exiting after a 70 minute meeting.
Trump himself was reportedly enraged by the ineptitude of his defense team after head defense lawyer Bruce Castor delivered a bumbling diatribe against the legitimacy of a Senate trial against a former President on Tuesday.
Trump spokesman Jason Miller even bragged about the open line of communication between the supposedly impartial Senators and the team whose defense they're supposed to be evaluating.
Miller said:
"Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, these are some smart guys with some very good ideas, and I think President Trump is going to get the absolute best defense today, and it was a real honor to have those Senators come in and give us some additional ideas, so we're appreciative for that."
People were outraged at the corruption on display.
Some say their votes should be disqualified.
Trump's defense completed their defense in around two and a half hours, despite a 16 hour allotment. The trial is expected to conclude on Saturday.
@huntichon/X
@bigugly/X
@JonCowboyBear/X
@TommyJerry4000/X