Impeachment Day Four: Trump’s Defense

President Trump's defense team will present their case Friday, arguing his calls to "fight" ahead of the January 6th riots are protected free speech. NBC's Susan McGinnis reports.

WASHINGTON (NBC News) — Donald Trump’s legal team on Friday will lay out its case for exonerating the former president of inciting the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

On Thursday House impeachment managers made their final attempt to convince senators Mr. Trump must be held accountable for directing rioters to attack.

“The President told them to be there, and so they actually believed they would face no punishment,” Colorado’s Rep. Diane DeGette said.

They described a president who encouraged violence not just on January 6th, but throughout his presidency, and refused to condemn it afterward.

“January 6th was not some unexpected radical break from his normal, law-abiding and peaceful disposition. This was his state of mind, this was his essential M-O!” lead impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin said.

Mr. Trump’s attorneys are expected to call the trial political, and will also focus on his right to free speech.

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