“The strength of our constitution is about to be tested like never before in our history,” Castor said in Trump’s statement. “It’s strong and resilient. A document written for all ages, and it will again and always triumph over partiality. “
A former Trump campaign advisor, Ted Goodman, will also join the team, who, according to a person familiar with the matter, will help with communications and Capitol Hill outreach.
The House approved an article of impeachment against Trump on Jan. 13 – seven days before he left office – in the wake of the Jan. 6 uprising at the Capitol, which claimed five lives. The Senate refused to include that article before Trump left office a week later, and most of the 50 Republicans have subsequently argued that it is not constitutional for the Senate to impeach a president who is no longer president.
In a Senate split 50-50 along partisan lines, Trump is unlikely to be convicted. A conviction would, among other things, prevent him from seeking the presidency again.
Schoen, described as “an experienced trial attorney,” recently represented Trump employee Roger Stone on a conviction appeal and joined the case in April 2020.
“He had some compelling appeal issues that affected constitutional rights to a fair trial,” Schoen said when Stone withdrew the appeal from his convictions, for which he was subsequently pardoned by Trump.
Schoen also appeared in an investigative documentary called “Who Killed Jeffrey Epstein?” – and said he believed the financier-pedophile was murdered in prison in August 2019. Schoen had met Epstein days before his death, he told the Atlanta Jewish Times. He has a long history of defending clients in high profile criminal cases, including organized crime figures.
Castor is the former district attorney of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. He tried a number of high-profile murder cases, but in 2005 he declined to prosecute actor-comedian Bill Cosby on a charge of sexual assault. Castor would face sharp criticism after leaving the district attorney’s office when dozens of other women came forward to impeach Cosby, who is now in prison.
Castor subsequently served as one of the county’s commissioners. Following the resignation of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane after being convicted of perjury and abuse of her power, Castor briefly served as acting state attorney general in 2016.
Earlier Sunday, one of Trump’s upcoming jurors said he hoped Trump’s defense would rest on the facts of Jan. 6 and not get bogged down in other things that could paralyze the case.
“The evidence, as I understand,” said Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), “Will focus on whether or not the president contributed to an atmosphere for people to attack, break into, the Capitol. to threaten, if you will, both members of Congress and vice president [Mike] Pence. That’s the charge. So I hope any defense refutes that charge. “
Gabby Orr and Josh Gerstein contributed to this report.