Former President Donald Trump has lost his best impeachment lawyers with just over a week to go to the start of the Senate trial that is expected to result in an acquittal, according to sources familiar with the situation. Meanwhile, Jacob Chansley, the “QAnon Shaman”, has offered to testify in the upcoming proceedings.
Two unnamed people familiar with the case told the Associated Press Saturday that South Carolina lawyers Butch Bowers and Deborah Barbier have left Trump’s legal team. One of the sources described their departure as a ‘mutual decision’ caused by differing opinions on the handling of the case.
A source said two former South Carolina federal prosecutors, Greg Harris and Johnny Gasser, are also no longer on Trump’s defense team. Another source said their replacements will be announced in the coming days.
Both sources asked for anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the legal team’s private exchanges.
Pete Marovich / Getty
In a statement on Saturday, Trump adviser Jason Miller said, “We have done a lot of work, but have not yet made a final decision on our legal team, which will be taken soon.”
Newsweek reached out to Trump representatives for comment. This story will be updated with every comment.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch ally of Trump, first announced that Bowers would be joining the legal team earlier this month. “I think Butch Bowers will be the kind of tenant,” Graham said.
This week, Albert Watkins, a lawyer for Chansley – who has been accused multiple times of storming the Capitol on January 6 while wearing a furry hat with horns, face paint and no shirt – offered to have his client testify. Watkins revealed that Chansley believes Trump betrayed him by refusing his request for a pardon.
Graham warned against allowing Chansley, aka Jake Angeli, to testify during Trump’s second impeachment trial. The Republican senator had previously criticized the House for impeaching Trump without witnesses, but said on Friday that allowing Chansley to testify could turn the trial into a “ complete circus ” that could “ take months. ‘.
In a telephone interview with Newsweek, Watkins said Chansley realizes that the former president was “making fun of” him. “If there is anything more than a circus that deals with clowns making backflips during the impeachment proceedings, someone who was turned on must testify,” the lawyer added.
The House voted 232-197 to impeach Trump on January 13, accusing him of “inciting” insurgency for his alleged role in the deadly January 6 Capitol riot.
On Tuesday, Senate Republicans overwhelmingly voted against allowing an impeachment trial in a procedural vote of 55-45. Seventeen Republicans in the upper room will have to cross party lines and vote with the Democrats to condemn Trump, but only five supported the process.
“It’s still going on, but I think [Tuesday’s] Senate floor vote shows that President Trump is extremely unlikely to be convicted, “Maine GOP Senator Susan Collins told reporters on Wednesday.
Despite the slim chance of a conviction, Senate leader Chuck Schumer, majority leader, has confirmed that the impeachment trial will begin in the second week of February.