THE PROSECUTION in Donald Trump's impeachment trial claims that American democracy will be forever damaged unless the former president is convicted.
Presenting their case after two long days, the House prosecutors insisted that Mr Trump's false claims of electoral fraud and dangerous incitements of violence cannot go unpunished, and that he must be barred from future office.
"If we pretend this didn't happen, or worse, if we let it go unanswered, who's to say it won't happen again?" Argued prosecutor Joe Neguse.
Democrats argued that even out of office, due to Trump's massive following, the former president could potentially whip up a mob and cause similar damage to that seen at the Capitol Building.
As part of the trial, videos of the Capitol riot were shown, depicting the Trump supporters who stormed Congress proudly declaring they were there on "the president's orders".
Trump has been accused of inciting the riot, which lead to the deaths of five people, including one police officer, on January 6.
Earlier that day, he told his supporters to "fight like hell" to overturn the result of the election at a rally.
He was officially impeached a week later on January 13, making history by becoming the first ever president to face impeachment twice.
Trump made history again last week by becoming the first former president to be tried in the Senate.
His legal team tried to argue that it was unconstitutional for the Senate to try a private citizen, which Trump has now become. The Senate, however, voted to continue the trial earlier this week, deeming the process legal and legitimate.
Mr Trump's team will take to the floor today to argue his defence.
It's understood that they will claim the riot was a terrible act of violence - but not the president's doing.
Once both cases are heard, each member of the chamber will cast their vote.
Conviction is unlikely given that a two-thirds majority is needed to secure one, and there are more Republicans in the Senate than there are Democrats.
But only time will tell.
