Five of Trump's impeachment defense attorneys leave team less than two weeks before trial

[Zorro]

Five of former President Donald Trump's impeachment defense team attorneys have stepped aside a little more than a week before his Senate trial is set to begin, according to people familiar with the case, amid a disagreement over his legal strategy.

It was a dramatic development in the second impeachment trial for Trump, who has struggled to find lawyers willing to take his case. And now, with legal briefs due next week and a trial set to begin only days later, Trump is clinging to his election fraud charade and suddenly finds himself without legal representation.

Butch Bowers and Deborah Barbier, who were expected to be two of the lead attorneys, are no longer on the team. A source familiar with the changes said it was a mutual decision for both to leave the legal team. As the lead attorney, Bowers assembled the team.

Josh Howard, a North Carolina attorney who was recently added to the team, has also left, according to another source familiar with the changes. Johnny Gasser and Greg Harris, also from South Carolina, are no longer involved with the case, either.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/30/politics/butch-bowers-deborah-barbier-trump-impeachment-team/index.html

I'd heard that the 2 lead attorneys had left by mutual agreement, but wasn't aware there were 3 others on the defense team.

I bet Trump is wanting to go on the Senate floor to "defend" himself.

[Blue Owl]

1. Bwah!

Suck it Donny you fat piece of shit!

[Talitha]

16. "Suck it Donny you fat piece of shit!"

Well said!!

[oswaldactedalone]

29. Indeed

[Renew Deal]

2. He probably asked them if they thought he was guilty.

[riversedge]

5. oink.

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. Can't mount a defense?

He is fucked.

[Poiuyt]

14. It doesn't matter

The republicans will not vote to convict no matter how damning the evidence.

[OAITW r.2.0]

15. 2022, 2024

People remember

[Poiuyt]

18. That's the problem. People DON'T remember

Political memory is very short. That's why I was hoping there would be an impeachment trial as soon after the insurrection as possible. In fact, Trump's favorability among Republicans is already coming back.

[Jon King]

27. Republicans are only 30% of the total voters

The rest are Dems or No party....so do not be mislead by Trump's high approval among registered Republicans. Its very low with total voters.

[oswaldactedalone]

30. Still

Vote Blue in '22. Pass it on.

[mucifer]

4. So how many lawyers are there? trump lost 5 does he have 2 more 10 more?

[Indykatie]

6. They Probably Wanted to Be Paid Upfront Which is Always Smart When Dealing With Trump n/t

[Brother Mythos]

21. Yes, I think we have a winner!

While there are probably other reasons as well, one has to wonder why any reputable lawyer, or law firm, would risk representing Trump, given his history of stiffing his hired help.

[Grasswire2]

7. Also, someone on twitter (a defense atty) said that this happens when the client wants something ...

...that the lawyers see as unwise or unethical.

You can just imagine what Trump might want as his defense. He might expect them to lie for him.

[RockRaven]

8. As loathe as I am to help Repukes, I'd like to point out this gives them a way out...

More than half of them should completely boycott the trial (including the vote) as illegitimate on the supposed grounds that Trump doesn't have adequate representation. Don't set foot in the Capitol at all while the trial is underway. The remainder less than half should show up, be assholes like always, and vote to acquit.

Trump will be convicted (requires 2/3 of *those present*), he'll lose the disqualification penalty vote too, and your party will be free of him, YET ALL OF YOU CAN CLAIM YOU SUPPORTED HIM and (dishonestly) put all of the blame on Democrats. It is win-win-win-etc for everyone but Trump.

[OMGWTF]

31. YES! And have the ballots be secret.

[TwilightZone]

9. Rumor is that he demanded that they argue massive fraud...

instead of a real defense and they all quit.

[sheshe2]

10. Oh no!

Sad.Not.

[PSPS]

11. From the article

A person familiar with the departures told CNN that Trump wanted the attorneys to argue there was mass election fraud and that the election was stolen from him rather than focus on the legality of convicting a president after he's left office. Trump was not receptive to the discussions about how they should proceed in that regard.

The attorneys had not yet been paid any advance fees and a letter of intent was never signed.

[RainCaster]

12. Looks like Uncle Rudy gets to be the head clown

[moonscape]

13. Trump knows he won't be convicted, so all he cares about

is promoting his stolen rant, and as I said earlier about Bowers leaving, having attorneys do a rally for him on the Senate floor. Nothing else is worth paying for, if he paid at all of course.

[angrychair]

17. Its pointless anyway

Its pointless, the Senate Republicans and McConnell are sycophants. Trump could come onto the Senate floor, completely naked, waving a nazi flag, screaming obscenities at Republicans and stating matter of factly he was guilty and Republicans still would vote him innocent.

[joshcryer]

19. Trumps demise would only be if he testifies.

The Republicans can cover for him otherwise.

[UTUSN]

20. If he figures out that people will *PAY* to see him there... !1

[Gothmog]

22. Louie is available

Link to tweet

[soothsayer]

23. And Tiffany

[NBachers]

24. Rudy and Oily Taint.

[DeminPennswoods]

25. Am willing to bet that these being lawyers

from SC, Graham was the one who recommended them to Trump. Graham has also been pushing the argument that you can't try an ex-president. Graham got up on Jan 6th and said Biden won fair and square leaving him sort of boxed when it comes to embracing the "fraud" theory.

[LeftInTX]

26. Probably won't have defense because he won't "need" it

Link to tweet

I see this in criminal trials...There will be no defense...Trump knows he will be acquitted.

[BarbD]

28. This becomes part of the historical record. And that matters.

And, no we won't forget. We won't forget the lying, the enabling, the insurrection. We will never forget.

[rocktivity]

32. A disagreement over "strategy" -- or a refusal to obey Trump's direct orders?

After all, if beating the charge doesn't win him recovery of "stolen" presidency, what will he really accomplish? On the other hand, it would be a good first step toward an insanity defense...


rocktivity