Ted Lieu says Trump does not deserve ‘mulligan’ in impeachment argument shaming Mike Lee

Mr Lieu said Mr Trump's lack of remorse is evidence he will continue to do harm

Congressman Ted Lieu shamed Republican Mike Lee during his argument for the conviction of Donald Trump during the Senate impeachment trial.

On Thursday, Mr Lieu argued that Mr Trump's lack of remorse invalidated any claim that the former president should receive a "mulligan" for actions that inspired the US Capitol insurrection.

"Some people have argued that President Trump made a mistake. That he gets a mulligan. But we know President Trump didn't make a mistake. Because, you see, when you or I make a mistake and something very bad happens, we would show remorse," he said.

Reporters pointed out that Mr Lieu looked directly at Republican Sen. Mike Lee while he made the statement, who originally made the remark that Mr Trump should be afforded a second chance.

“It's not different, these are outgrowths of the same natural impulse that exist from time to time among anyone in this business and in many other businesses,” he said on Fox News. “Look, everyone makes mistakes, everyone is entitled to a mulligan once in a while.”

Mr Lieu argued that Mr Trump's lack of remorse was evidence that he would continue to do harm, despite no longer being in office.

"President Trump expressed no regrets for last week's violence insurrection at the US Capitol. This sends exactly the wrong signal to those of us who support the very core of our democratic principles and took a solemn oath to the constitution. It is time to say enough is enough," Mr Lieu said.

The Senator went on to clarify that he did not think it was wrong to contest the election results, but that Mr Trump's invective in the months before and after the election directly contributed to the deaths at the Capitol on the day of the insurrection.

"But what President Trump did, as his former chief of staff explained, was different. It was dishonorable. It was un-american. And it resulted in fatalities," Mr Lieu said.

He concluded that without punishment, Mr Trump will continue to cause harm.

"President Trump's lack of remorse shows that he will undoubtedly cause future harm if allowed because he still refuses to account for his previous high grave crime against our government," he said.