After disagreements over legal strategy

Trump's lawyers drop his defense days before his Senate trial

Heavy guard surrounds the Capitol building in Washington.

A.F.B.

A number of lawyers in the defense team of former US President Donald Trump abandoned their mission to defend him a few days before his trial in the Senate as part of his impeachment mechanism, according to CNN and other US media outlets.

The TV channel quoted unidentified sources as saying that five lawyers, including two who were supposed to lead the billionaire Republican agents' team, retreated from his defense, after disputes over legal strategy.

CNN stated that Trump wanted his lawyers to continue defending the hypothesis of massive fraud during the presidential elections, which led to the victory of Democrat Joe Biden, instead of focusing on the legality of suing a president whose term had expired, noting that the former president was unwilling In discussing the matter.

The channel pointed out that among these lawyers were Butch Bowers and Deborah Barbier, who were supposed to head the defense team for Trump.

"CNN" and other media quoted them as saying that the decision came from both sides.

A source familiar with the matter said differences arose between Trump and Bowers over strategy before the trial.

The former president continues to claim he was the victim of widespread fraud in the November 3 election, which Biden won.

The lawyers ’decision puts Trump, who reportedly is making arduous efforts to prepare his defense before his historic second trial, faces new obstacles just days before the start of the trial.

Yet even with a legal team in disarray it appears increasingly likely to escape conviction.

Trump's trial on charges of "inciting rebellion" will begin on February 9, after his supporters stormed the Congress headquarters on January 6.

But with only five Republicans and the 50 Democrats in the Senate agreeing to go ahead with the trial, it is likely that the required two-thirds majority - 67 senators - will not secure it.

Conversely, blaming Trump, a less severe measure than exclusion, requires a vote of no fewer than 10 Republican senators to adopt, which some believe is possible.

This could allow Trump to run for the presidency again in 2024, and this possibility is now supported by a large portion of Republicans, despite the storming of the Capitol by a mob of extremists loyal to Trump, in an attempt to nullify the election results.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the heir to the Publicex supermarket chain donated nearly $ 300,000 to fund a gathering that preceded the Trump supporters' storming of the Capitol.

The newspaper said that the far-right presenter, Alex Jones, facilitated the funding provided by Julie Jenkins Fanseli, a prominent fundraiser for the Trump 2020 campaign. His supporters to "fight".

More than 135 people were arrested in connection with the attack on the Capitol Building, as the members gathered to validate Biden's victory.

Five people died, including a policeman.

The Publix supermarket chain said in a tweet on «Twitter» that «Fanseli is not an employee of the chain, is also not involved in its commercial operations, and does not represent the company in any way.

The chain cannot comment on Ms. Fanseli's actions. ”

And prosecutors in the US state of Columbia said that two members of the far-right Broad Boys group have been indicted in connection with the storming of the Capitol.

The US Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia said the two men, aged 31 and 43, from New York, were accused of conspiracy, civil unrest, and illegal entry into prohibited buildings or land, among other charges.

The 43-year-old faces additional charges, including stealing public property, assaulting, resisting or obstructing officers, and destroying government property.

The "Brad Boys" group gained noticeable fame after the first US presidential debate last October, when Trump spoke directly to members of the group, asking them to stand by and support him.

Newspaper: A prominent contribution to the Trump campaign that funded a rally that preceded the storming of the Capitol.

• Two members of the "Broad Boys" group are accused of storming the Capitol.

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