Former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate could possibly be delayed as he has not secured lawyers to represent him, reports CNN.
House Democrats are in discussion to send over the articles of impeachment to the Senate as early as Friday. Trump, who is charged with inciting the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, also doesn’t seem to have a clear legal strategy for the trial according to NBC.
Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani told ABC News he can’t defend Trump because he gave a speech at the same rally where the former president spoke just before the riot.
“Because I gave an earlier speech [at the Jan. 6 Trump rally], I am a witness and therefore unable to participate in court or Senate chamber,” he told the news outlet.
Pat Cipollone and Jay Sekulow, lawyers who defended Trump in his first impeachment trial, have declined to represent him this time around. Former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, Eric Herschmann, Pat Philbin, and Marc Kasowitz also have no interest in joining a team this time, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke with Bloomberg.
The House voted over a week ago to impeach Trump.
“We had to wait for the Senate to be in session,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Thursday, explaining why she didn’t immediately send the article to the upper chamber.
“They’ve now informed us they’re ready to receive [the article of impeachment]. There are other questions about how a trial will proceed, but we are ready.”
She added, “The whole world bore witness to the president’s incitement.”
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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