Trump hiring more new lawyers to fight impeachment trial

Former US President Donald Trump hired two new lawyers to head his defense team for his historic second impeachment trial set to begin next week.

Trump’s announcement on Sunday follows reports he abruptly parted ways with several of his impeachment lawyers. Lawyers David Schoen and Bruce Castor will head the defence effort in the trial set to begin in the US Senate on February 9; Trump’s office said in a statement. Schoen had already been helping Trump and advisers prepare for the proceedings, according to the former president’s office.

Both attorneys issued statements through Trump’s office saying they were honoured to take the job.

“The strength of our Constitution is about to be tested like never before in our history. It is strong and resilient. A document written for the ages, and it will triumph over partisanship yet again, and always,” said Castor.

Two lawyers resignations

Butch Bowers and Deborah Barberi, two South Carolina lawyers, are no longer on Trump’s team; sources familiar with the situation told news agencies on Saturday, describing their departure as a “mutual decision”.

Castor has focused on criminal law throughout his career, and Schoen specialises in “civil rights litigation in Alabama and federal criminal defence work including white-collar and other complex cases; in New York”, the statement said.

Trump, who left office January 20, faces trial on a charge that he incited the mob that stormed the US Capitol building in an effort to block his election loss to President Joe Biden. He is due to file a response to the impeachment charges on Tuesday.

The trial is historic on two fronts; marking the first time a president has been impeached twice and the first time a former United States president has faced such a trial.

Schoen had already been working with the defence team; and he and Castor “agree that this impeachment is unconstitutional”, the statement said.