It won’t make any difference to the outcome, but it’s still good to know that Trump’s lawyers’ claims are falling apart because of that phone call.

Former President Donald Trump’s impeachment defense is looking more threadbare: New statements by Republican lawmakers appear to undercut key claims from his defense team about how much Trump knew about the unfolding January 6 attack on the US Capitol, and when he knew it.

New details emerged Friday about a January 6 call between Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, in the midst of the attack. First recounted in January by Washington state Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who was one of just 10 House Republicans to vote for impeachment, the call gives insight into Trump’s state of mind on the day of the insurrection and suggests his sympathies lay with the rioters.

The defense had argued that “the president would never have wanted such a riot to occur because his longstanding hatred for violent protesters,” but Trump’s conversation with McCarthy — as well as his long history of inciting violence well before the attack on the Capitol — flies in the face of that claim.

His longstanding hatred for violent protesters my ass – does no one remember Charlottesville? He hates all protesters on that side. It’s not violence he hates, it’s opposition to Trump.

Ultimately, this account appears to have changed the shape of the trial. Lawmakers and observers originally predicted a quick end to the impeachment proceedings as soon as Saturday; however, lead House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) has now called for Beutler to be deposed, and for her notes about Trump’s conversation with McCarthy be subpoenaed. Witnesses, including Beutler, could also be called to testify.

Notes. There are notes.

Trump has been criticized for sending a tweet attacking Pence at 2:24 pm Eastern time on January 6, writing that “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!”

According to a spokesperson for Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) Trump called Lee at 2:26 pm, two minutes after sending that tweet, and he passed his phone to Tuberville at that time. Lee has reportedly provided impeachment managers and the defense team a record of this call verifying the call, which lasted for about four minutes.

Pence was evacuated from the Senate chamber at 2:15 pm, according to Politico. Reporting suggests that the mob, which chanted “hang Mike Pence” and erected a gallows outside of the Capitol, came within seconds of encountering the former vice president as he was evacuated.

Despite Tuberville having informed Trump about the situation at the Capitol, van der Veen was unequivocal on Friday: “The answer is no,” van der Veen said in response to a question from Sens. Mitt Romney and Susan Collins. “At no point was the president informed the vice president was in any danger.”

But he was informed.

But 17 Republicans aren’t going to vote to convict.

On the other hand Trump could be in prison by 2024. It’s got to be a logistical nightmare to run for president from prison.