Because the legal team is so disorganized, the former President’s allies are apprehensive about how the defense will go
Attorney Bruce Castor confirmed the defense team is streamlining its presentation.
“We are cutting to shorten the case,” Castor said.
Besides Castor, attorneys David Schoen, Michael van der Veen and William Brennan are all expected to speak during Friday’s arguments, according to a person familiar with the latest plan. Using videos of Democratic lawmakers, they plan to argue that Democrats glorified violence by re-creating the January 6 riot, will claim the trial is unconstitutional and will stress Trump’s First Amendment rights.
Because the legal team is so disorganized, Trump’s allies are apprehensive about how the defense will go.
Trump wants to see more lawyers defending him on television, a source familiar with his thinking said Thursday. Schoen left the Senate in the middle of the impeachment trial Thursday to do a live interview on Fox News.
Allies reassured the angry former president by reminding him he’s still headed toward acquittal.
Though Castor was supposed to lead the defense, as CNN reported, that’s now expected to be Schoen, who has said he will not participate in the proceedings during the Sabbath. Trump’s team believes they will likely wrap up their arguments by then.
This story has been updated with additional reporting.
Jim Acosta contributed to this report.
