Former President Trump’s defense team will begin their arguments today against conviction. Follow here for the latest.
The lawyers who signed on to lead former President Trump’s impeachment defense team bring a curious history of experience as they prepare to present their case today before the Senate. The lawyers are tasked with arguing a defense for a former President who faces the impeachment charge of inciting a deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, something that if convicted could also result in him being barred from holding federal office ever again. The two attorneys joined Trump’s team a day after five members of his defense left, effectively collapsing the team. Here are key things to know about the lawyers’ leading Trump’s team: Bruce Castor: He is a well-known lawyer and the former Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, district attorney. He already caused a stir during his opening remarks on the first day of the trial, befuddling jurors by calling out a Republican senator and eliciting a critical early review from one of Trump’s former lawyers who defended him during the first impeachment trial. Castor served as Montgomery County district attorney from 2000 to 2008, before serving two terms as the county commissioner, according to a release from Trump’s office. He was involved in at least one high-profile case as district attorney, when he declined in 2005 to prosecute Bill Cosby after Andrea Constand reported the actor had touched her inappropriately at his home in Montgomery County, citing « insufficient credible and admissible evidence. » Cosby was later tried and convicted in 2018 for drugging and sexually assaulting Constand at his home in 2004, despite the fact that Castor argued during a pre-trial hearing that he’d already committed the state to not prosecuting the actor. David Schoen: He is a seasoned civil and criminal lawyer whose website says he « focuses primarily on the litigation of complex civil and criminal cases before trial and appellate courts. » Trump is just the latest controversial figure his career has brought him to in recent years. Schoen was on the team of lawyers representing Roger Stone, Trump’s longtime friend and former adviser, in the appeal of his conviction related to issues Stone took with the jury. Stone dropped that appeal after the then-President commuted his prison sentence, but before Stone received a full presidential pardon for convictions, including lying to Congress to protect Trump. Schoen, who holds a master of laws from Columbia University and a juris doctorate from Boston College, according to his biography, serves as chair of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the Civil Rights Litigation Committee. Read more about the lawyers here Former President Trump’s defense team has said that Trump’s false claims that the presidential election was rigged and his speech to the crowd ahead of the Jan.6 Capitol riot are protected by the First Amendment. The First Amendment is often brought up in cases to protect people’s claims but it doesn’t always guarantee you the rights you think it does.
