As the Senate prepares to hold its third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history, the defense team for Donald Trump was revealed to include Ken Starr, Robert Ray, Alan Dershowitz, and Pam Bondi.
What We Know:
- The addition of Starr and Dershowitz brings the number of attorneys defending Trump at his Senate trial to six.
- Starr, who served as federal appellate judge and solicitor general, is best known for his role as independent counsel investigating members of the Clinton administration. He prosecuted former President Bill Clinton for lying about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. During the Clinton impeachment, Trump called Mr. Starr a “freak” and a “lunatic”, who Trump supported at the time.
- Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor, gained fame in the 1970s for his involvement in the Chicago Seven trial and went on to represent high-profile clients like O.J. Simpson, kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst, and Claus von Bulow. He says the impeachment articles approved against Trump failed to meet constitutional standards.
- Dershowitz confirmed his involvement in the impeachment trial via Twitter. He said he will present the constitutional arguments against impeachment and removal from office.
No president has ever been removed by the Senate. The current Senate, with a 53-47 Republican majority, is not expected to mount the two-thirds voted needed for conviction.
