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Watch: Trump Defense Team Takes Its Turn in Impeachment Trial

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Bruce Castor (L) and David Schoen, defense attorneys for former President Donald Trump, gather by their vehicle outside of the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 10, 2021 in Washington, D.C. House managers and the defense will make opening arguments today as the Senate impeachment trial of former President Trump continues.  (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

Updated on Friday at 11 a.m. ET

Former President Donald Trump's defense team will make its case Friday, during Day 4 of his Senate impeachment trial.

Though they're allotted 16 hours over two days, Trump's attorneys have indicated that they plan to conclude their presentation against conviction on Friday.

Their turn comes after Democratic House managers ended their two days of arguments on Thursday, alleging that Trump served as "inciter-in-chief" for insurrection on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

The defense is set to begin its case Friday at noon ET. Follow updates on the trial here.

Editor's Note: Videos shown during the proceedings may contain profanity and violence.

The Senate began the trial Tuesday, a little more than a month after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Senators voted 56-44 that the trial was in fact constitutional, even though Trump has already left office.

The House of Representatives voted on Jan. 13 to impeach Trump for incitement of insurrection with just a week left in his term, charging that he caused the riot that endangered hundreds of lawmakers and left five people dead, including a police officer. Two more police officers committed suicide in the days following the riot.

Trump has denied responsibility for stoking the mob on Jan. 6. His lawyers claim he did not encourage unlawful acts and that his comments to supporters that day are protected by the First Amendment. They also argue that he should not be on trial at all, as he is no longer president — though many constitutional experts disagree.

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As Congress began counting the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, Trump called for his supporters to walk to the Capitol in protest of the election results. Trump falsely claimed the election had been "stolen," despite his clear loss to now-President Biden.

"You'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong. We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated, lawfully slated," he said. "I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard."

Hours later, multiple people were dead, the Capitol building was in a state of chaos, and still, Biden's election victory was certified by Congress.

House impeachment managers dissected those remarks and others made by Trump in the months prior to argue that his false election claims laid the groundwork for the violence far before that particular rally.

Trump is not expected to participate in the Senate trial. He also didn't participate in his first impeachment trial, which ended in an acquittal a year ago.

This page was originally published on Tuesday at 11:26 a.m. ET.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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