Representative Eric Swalwell admitting on live television that the Democrats ignored a Constitutional principle during their impeachment crusade.
Swalwell stated that it was President Trump’s responsibility to prove his innocence and not the Democrat’s responsibility to prove his guilt.
Using this logic Trump would be guilty until proven innocent instead of innocent until proven guilty which is a tenant of the American criminal justice system.
According to Fox News:
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said Tuesday that if President Trump refuses to send the documents and witnesses that House Democrats requested in the impeachment inquiry, “We can only conclude that you’re guilty,” sparking critics on Twitter to accuse him of suggesting the president is guilty until proven innocent.
“In America, innocent men do not hide and conceal evidence,” Swalwell added, in his conversation with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “They are forthcoming and they want to cooperate and the president is acting like a very guilty person right now.”
Among those objecting to Swalwell’s remarks was Ben Williamson, communications director for Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C.
“I believe the Fifth Amendment was just repealed on live television,” Williamson wrote.
I believe the Fifth Amendment was just repealed on live television
“Unless you send us (witnesses), we can only conclude that you’re guilty because in America, innocent men don’t conceal evidence… they are forthcoming and want to cooperate” pic.twitter.com/BPVpnP2yAL
— Ben Williamson (@_WilliamsonBen) December 17, 2019
Eric, odd thing about the US, you’re innocent until proven guilty. Not his responsibility to prove he’s innocent, your responsibility to prove he’s guilty. Obviously you missed school that day!
— golphinphool (@golphinphool) December 18, 2019
guilty until proven innocent, the motto of the liberal miscreants like you.
— BvrKnight (@BvrKnight) December 17, 2019
Trump blocked several witnesses from testifying but the Democrats never attempted to get a court order to compel the witnesses to testify which they could have done.
The establishment of the principle of innocent until proven guilty established in the Supreme Court case Coffin v. United States (1895). The principle is also said to have been established in the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.
