Donald Trump upon his arrival in Florida on January 20, 2021. -

Lynne Sladky / AP / SIPA

Donald Trump reshuffles the cards.

Dropped by five of his lawyers a week before the start of his impeachment trial before the Senate, the former White House tenant announced Sunday that he had hired two new counsel.

A last-minute change that would be due to a difference in his strategy: according to CNN, Donald Trump does not simply want his team to challenge the constitutionality of his trial, but also to plead the thesis of massive fraud during the 'presidential election.

The “highly respected litigators” David Schoen and Bruce Castor Jr will now lead his team, Donald Trump said in a statement.

Castor is a former Pennsylvania prosecutor who refused to sue Bill Cosby in 2005, claiming that there was not enough evidence to convince a jury "beyond reasonable doubt".

David Schoen, on the other hand, specializes in "civil rights trials in Alabama and federal criminal defense in New York, including white-collar workers and other complex cases."

He had met Jeffrey Epstein a few days before his death to discuss a possible performance.

He has repeatedly indicated in the media that he did not believe in the suicide thesis because the financier accused of sex trafficking of minors was, according to him, "optimistic and impatient" to defend himself.

David Schoen also represented Donald Trump's former adviser Roger Stone during his trial in connection with the Robert Mueller investigation.

A trial without much suspense

The trial of Donald Trump, indicted in the House for "inciting insurgency" after the violence of his supporters on Capitol Hill, is due to start on February 9.

It doesn't really give his new team much time to prepare for their defense.

But this rebound should not have a major impact for the former president, because the elected Republicans seem determined to close ranks.

Last week, only five Republicans voted with Democrats to confirm the trial - others believe that trying a president after his term ends is unconstitutional.

It is not excluded that some people change their minds, like the influential Mitch McConnell.

But barring a rebound, we should be far from a two-thirds majority, which would require the defection of 17 Republicans.

Donald Trump should logically escape impeachment, but also a second vote on possible ineligibility.

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Donald Trump impeachment: Republicans unite in Senate, impeachment unlikely

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