Donald Trump has been invited to testify under oath at his impeachment trial next week.
Democrat impeachment managers issued the invite on Thursday, writing: ‘I write to invite you to provide testimony under oath, either before or during the Senate impeachment trial, concerning your conduct on January 6 2021.’
The letter was sent to Trump’s lawyers in response to his denial of claims of inciting the deadly January 6 riots at the Capitol. It is unclear if Trump has any plans to testify at the Senate trial, or whether his lawyers Bruce Castor and David Schoen will speak entirely on his behalf.
Trump’s trial kicks off on Febrary 8. Earlier this week, his lawyers filed a framework of the defense arguments they intend to present.
They insist the former president’s speech to supporters who later stormed the Capitol was entirely legal under US free speech laws.
Lawyers acting on behalf of the former president added that his words – ‘if you don’t fight like hell, you won’t have a country anymore’ were not an incitement to violence.
But impeachment managers, who will act as prosecutors, say Trump is directly responsible for provoking the violent chaos.
The trial is scheduled to last around three days. A two thirds majority of senators must vote to convict Trump for him to be found guilty. 
If Trump was convicted, he would be banned from running for office again, lose a government travel allowance, and the Secret Service protection detail afforded to former presidents.
