‘Naked fear and cowardice’: Ex-Pentagon chief explodes over GOP’s refusal to convict Trump

Speaking on MSNBC this Friday, former Secretary of Defense William Cohen described his time as a Republican member of the House of Representatives who voted to impeach Richard Nixon. He also addressed the fact that there are some senators who are taking their "personal safety" into account when it comes to whether or not they'll vote to convict Donald Trump in his impeachment trial.

Cohen said he faced similar pressures during the Nixon era, "and now when I hear that some members are afraid that if they vote the truth, if they understand that this is what Donald Trump did -- he attacked our democracy -- and they're afraid?"

"Donald Trump was the fireman in chief. He's the chief marshal," Cohen continued. "Forget about all the arguments of whether he arranged [the Capitol attack], whether he inspired them ... he was the fireman in chief and he watched the fire burn, and while he sat back either eating chips or drinking some soft drink, and took no action. That was an impeachable act, and any person on the Senate who doesn't recognize that as an impeachable act and votes not to convict, they don't deserve to have the word 'honorable' next to their name."

Watch the full segment in the video below: