200+ Lawyers March on US Capitol to Demand Witnesses as Senate GOP Barrels Toward Trump Acquittal

Activists participate in a rally calling for witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. January 29, 2020. (Photo: Aurora Samperio/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

200+ Lawyers March on US Capitol to Demand Witnesses as Senate GOP Barrels Toward Trump Acquittal

"As lawyers, we have sworn an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution, and that oath compels us to speak out today."

More than 200 lawyers on Friday marched from the U.S. Capitol building to the steps of the Supreme Court to demand that the Senate call witnesses in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial as Republican senators moved closer to ending the proceedings with an acquittal.

"America will never forget this impeachment trial sham and those whose cowardice perpetuated it."
--By the People

"We gather today in our nation's capital to demand that United States senators honor their oath to do impartial justice in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump," one attorney said at a rally in front of the Supreme Court. "As lawyers, we have sworn an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution, and that oath compels us to speak out today."

The demonstration came as the Senate debated whether to allow witnesses in Trump's impeachment trial just after the New York Timesreported that President Donald Trump in May of 2019 directed former national security adviser John Bolton to "help with his pressure campaign to extract damaging information on Democrats from Ukrainian officials"--a revelation that intensified calls for Bolton to testify.

But the vote to call witnesses is widely expected to fail after two key Republicans, Sens. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), announced they would vote no.

With a final vote on whether to acquit or remove Trump exected as early as Friday evening, progressive advocacy groups urged the U.S. public to take to the streets at 5:30pm local time for emergency nationwide protests.

"History must show that we resisted," tweeted Women's March. "Join us today... for an emergency protest to demand witnesses and evidence in the Senate impeachment trials!"

Find an event near you.

"America will never forget this impeachment trial sham and those whose cowardice perpetuated it," tweeted advocacy group By the People. "But let history show that the American people did not go quietly in the face of injustice."

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.