Newsmax's Mark Halperin denies that Trump has responsibility for the attack on the Capitol
Published
Citation From the February 10, 2021, edition of Newsmax's American Agenda
BOB SELLERS (HOST): Nobody is doubting, Mark, that this attack on the Capitol occurred. And they were able to bring some video to the table and show how serious those attacks were and how people's lives may be in danger. Now that's a different question than whether Donald Trump is responsible for that. But we definitely saw a compelling presentation here.
MARK HALPERIN (POLITICAL ANALYST): That was American history. None of us had seen that, a very small number of had seen it before just now. And so we're watching American history through video. That's important. I think there's five other points I want to make quickly. One is the breach of security was extraordinary and horrible. And there's no accounting for how that could have happened. Second is it's understandable why everyone on Capitol Hill that day, whatever role they played, was scared. That was really scary stuff. Third is the people who did that should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Now the two other things I want to say are more controversial. One is President Trump did not do enough by the account of people who were with him that day to try to stop that situation. And that, I think, for many Republicans, including Trump Republicans, that's the most serious mistake he made. But the other thing is, you can show all you want what happened on that horrible day on things that have no excuse in our society, but it doesn't mean, as you suggested, that President Trump, therefore, has the responsibility for what happened. And that's the crux of the argument of that impeachment and conviction.
SELLERS: All very good points Mark.