Donald Trump's closest confidante in the Senate has accused Democrats on the eve of Trump's second impeachment trial of having 'declared war on the presidency itself', as reports suggested the former president is confident of being acquitted and focused instead on seeking revenge against Republicans who he believes betrayed him.
Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina senator who is in regular contact with Trump, insisted that Tuesday's trial was damaging to the country.
He said that Trump's January 13 conviction in the House was unfair because the 74-year-old was not given time to defend himself. 'What Democrats have done is basically declared war on the presidency itself,' said Graham, speaking on Sean Hannity's Fox News show.
Lindsey Graham on Monday told Fox News' Sean Hannity the impeachment trial was 'crap'
Graham and Hannity joked that the trial, beginning Tuesday, was farcical and ridiculous
Trump, who is currently at Mar-a-Lago, is said to be more focused on punishing his enemies
'The impeachment in the House took place without a hearing, without one witness being called, and without a lawyer for the president of the United States.
'You can't get a traffic ticket based on what they used to impeach President Trump.
'They're going to destroy the presidency itself.'
On Tuesday proceedings will begin with arguments over the constitutionality of the trial, and a vote on whether to proceed.
A simple majority is required to pass, meaning the 50:50 Senate - with Kamala Harris casting the deciding vote - will certainly vote to continue.
Each side will then get 16 hours to present their case, beginning Wednesday at noon.
Cross-examination will take place, followed by a vote, which will likely see Trump acquitted.
Chuck Schumer, laden with bags, is pictured arriving at his office on Monday
Protesters are seen outside the Capitol on Monday night on the eve of Trump's trial
Graham, 65, said the entire process was being carried out to prevent Trump from ever running for office again.
He warned it set a dangerous precedent.
'I know you hate Trump but please pull back before we set in motion this destruction of the presidency by never-ending impeachments based on lack of due process, and political retribution as the motive,' he said.
The senator further argued, as Trump's lawyers intend to, that impeaching a former president was unconstitutional.
Graham said that the Founders never intended to pursue private citizens, and the fact that punishment was removal from office showed that it was not designed for former presidents.
'They never envisioned going after the president once he is out of office because the purpose for impeachment is to remove them, not bar them from running in the future,' Graham argued.
'The whole point is lost, when the person is no longer in office.
'They didn't go after Nixon when he resigned for a reason.
'You're about to set in motion a historical precedent that will put at risk any future president.
'You can be impeached in the future based on hatred, 50 hours, no hearing, no lawyer.
'You can be impeached after you leave office. George Washington can be impeached because he owned slaves.
'We're doing a lot of damage to this country because people hate Trump.'
Trump himself, meanwhile, was said to be relaxed about the forthcoming trial.
Trump, in February 2020, holds up a newspaper showing the Senate acquittal of his first trial
Despite being the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, he was focused not on the trial but instead on punishing Republicans in the House who voted to impeach him.
High on the list, CNN reported, was Liz Cheney of Wyoming.
Ten Republicans, including Cheney, voted to impeach Trump.
One Trump adviser said the former president is seeking what he sees as 'accountability' for Republican House members who turned 'against the people.'
The adviser acknowledged, CNN said, that was a 'twisted view of reality' as Trump was the one who was actively attempting to overturn the will of the voters.
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