If I were Trump’s attorney, my opening statement would be this:
“I represent President Donald J. Trump. President Trump won the 2020 election in a landslide. He is the President of the United States. I must object that the Chief Justice is not presiding over this trial. According to Article I, Sec. 3, paragraph 6 the Chief Justice of the United States must preside. Why is the Chief Justice not present today?”
I’d bait Leahy to try to shut down this argument. I would argue that the events on Jan. 6th were the result of a “mostly peaceful” protest against the most blatant election fraud in U.S. history. I would further note that because of that rampant fraud, several Senators weren’t elected legitimately because of vote flipping or rigged primaries to ensure the most radical candidate was nominiated to oppose a sitting senator. This is all political, so I’d throw politcal bombs at the senate.
Also note, the problem with the argument that Trump isn’t president, is that there are still cases in the courts and SCOTUS arguing that he is. That argument can be made in briefs just to CYA, but the Senate already voted on the issue and there aren’t 67 Senators to convict. The attorney has a free pass to grandstand and deliver political attacks on the opposition. It shouldn’t be wasted. Trump’s lawyers must make the argument for the ages to remember.
Gaetz knows how to argue, he’s a genius of logic and presentation.
If he has 30 seconds, minutes, or hours, he’s a killer at debate.
Imagine 80 year old pro-communist “Leaky Leahy” trying to gavel him into silence.
It will be better television than any courtroom drama ever filmed.