Donald Trump's lawyers have begun their case today in the impeachment trial arguing the former president had no control over the insurrectionists who broke into the Capitol of their own accord.
They also contend his rhetoric was common political speech - protected under the first amendment - and have accused the Democrats of promoting "constitutional cancel culture".
"History will record this shameful effort as a deliberate attempt by the Democrat Party to smear, censor and cancel not just President Trump, but the 75 million Americans who voted for him," Trump defence lawyer Michael Van der Veen said.
Sources say the defence will only use a fraction of its allotted 16 hours to make a few simple points.
