Trump's impeachment defense lawyers are not good at their job

[Arkansas Granny]

In his first impeachment trial, former President Donald Trump drew on the White House's cadre of lawyers and some of the biggest names in conservative legal circles to defend him. This time around, things are different. And if the first legal brief his hastily assembled team filed is any indicator, this is not going to be a smooth ride for Trump.

I'll admit that I was worried about getting through Trump's defense brief in time to write this column. After all, last year's initial defense filing was an exacting, professional work, spanning 171 pages with dense appendixes. I needn't have been concerned. Trump's current defense is 14 pages of circuitous logic and rambling paeans to America. It also misspells "United States" on the first page.

After the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol that he set into motion, Trump struggled to find lawyers willing to take his case. Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone was a hard pass after months of wrangling with Trump's conspiracy-minded allies over the election results. Jay Sekulow, who was the lead outside counsel during last year's trial, was also a no. Rudy Giuliani reportedly wanted the gig, but thankfully that trial balloon was popped fast.

Then, last week, after a set of lawyers was finally nailed down, they all abruptly resigned. Rather than focus on the argument that Senate Republicans have latched onto — that the trial is moot because Trump is no longer in office — the former president wanted them to argue that he really did win the election.

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/trump-s-impeachment-defense-lawyers-are-not-good-their-job-n1256552?cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma

You don't know whether to laugh or cry. The really sad part is that it won't matter how incompetent his attorneys are or what evidence is presented, the spineless Republicans will not hold Trump accountable for his actions. They all need to be removed from office.

[bullimiami]

1. They make their bed. Hopefully it proves to be a bed of nails.

[kentuck]

2. We should have known it would come down to Trump having Epstein's lawyer...

...to defend him.

karmic justice.

[CentralMass]

3. The Orange Anus only hires the best people.

[sop]

4. I heard his legal team described as "mob lawyers."

How fitting.

[TwilightZone]

5. They were hired to be hacks for Trump, so they're performing as expected.

At this late stage, anyone who agreed to represent Trump knew what was expected - nonsense and chaos. That's what they're providing, as far as I can tell.

[Walleye]

6. Misspelling united, Freudian slip?

[Chainfire]

9. Did they spell it Untied?

Trump knows it doesn't matter who represents him or how he is represented. The bigger the circus this makes the better he will like it.
He knows he will be acquitted and we will listen to four more years about the witch hunt. The Republicans can use this trial to beat us up and they won't miss the chance to do so.


This is the Republican version of a "good" trial:

[Lock him up.]

16. But... what if the orange monster is finally found guilty of RAPE in the E. J. Carroll case?

And in the election-finance FRAUD involving a porn star and a centerfold?

And in a multitude of fiscal FRAUDS (and perhaps money-laundering laws violations) after a deep review of his tax returns?

And in cases of criminal phone calls to elected officials threatening them if they don't throw out millions of black votes?

And in maybe multiple cases of negligent homicide from States related to preventable deaths (he knew how deadly COVID was and LIED about it, instead of WORKING to prevent them)?

I think the orange anus will end up in jail for life (the IC promised he will...).

[Karma13612]

7. He could request

Daffy Duck to be his lawyer for this trial. It doesn’t matter. He will not be convicted.

Sad really. And yes, spineless GOP Senators should all be removed. The bar beyond which they won’t go has been thoroughly eliminated.

And it finally proves that people like Trump and Margerine Tart Grapes ARE Above the law.

[COLGATE4]

8. I have it on impeccable authority that

they're planning on using the Chewbacca defense:

[CaptainTruth]

10. They're going to argue that the Constitution should be ignored.

If they argue his trial is unconstitutional, when it's clearly not, they're arguing the Constitution should be ignored.

How many more times do Republicans have to tell us they want to ignore the Constitution before Americans realize they have no loyalty to our country & don't deserve to exist as a political party?

[Arkansas Granny]

11. I think we've seen over the past several years just how closely they adhere to the Constitution.

They will use parts of it to browbeat their opposition and completely ignore any parts that don't conform to their desires.

[HUAJIAO]

12. Sort of like the bible....

[Arkansas Granny]

15. Very much the same.

[Lonestarblue]

18. Sort of like the Supreme Court originalists ignore all the amendments improving civil rights.

The founders weren’t around for most of the amendments, yet the conservatives on the SC would rather claim they can go back in time and read their minds and that we of today should be bound by the mores in place at the founding. Originalism has not brought us progress. It is responsible for the expansion of the Second Amendment into the right to buy military grade guns and armor piercing bullets. No one needs those for personal protection.

[liberaltrucker]

13. Well, you get what you pay for

Or in Dump's case, stiff.

[spooky3]

14. The best lawyers no money can buy. Nt

[marble falls]

17. They're good enough. Mr Trump certainly has had the opportunity over the years to understand ...

... what good representation is.

[Happy Hoosier]

19. Trump will be acquitted, but there is a good chance the GOP....

... will really drag itself through the mud to do it.

[Poiuyt]

20. If I were an attorney, I would jump at the chance of being trump's impeachment lawyer

It's a guaranteed, high profile victory. You won't be paid, because trump never pays his bills, but that's okay because you don't need to do any prep work. All you have to do is show up on the day of the trial and just say, "I don't think he deserves conviction." And enough Republican senators will vote to acquit. Bingo--chalk up a big victory for your resume.