Two lawyers who joined former President Trump’s legal team amid the impending second impeachment trial have separated from his legal team. South Carolina Lawyer Butch Bowers, who was supposed to be the lead attorney, and Deborah Barbier, are no longer part of his legal team, Trump spokesman Jason Miller said on Saturday night.
“Democrats’ efforts to remove a president who has already stepped down are totally unconstitutional and very bad for our country. In fact, 45 senators have already voted that it is unconstitutional. We did a lot of work, but we didn’t make a final decision on our legal team, which will be formed soon, “said Miller.
A Trump adviser said the decision was mutual.
Senator Lindsey Graham announced last week that Bowers, a powerful Columbia lawyer with an impressive record of defending Republican politicians, would be the “main anchor” on Trump’s defense team. Miller confirmed that Bowers would join the team in a tweet on January 21.
Bowers represented former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford when the legislature considered impeaching him after he admitted lying to advisers about the Appalachian trail when he was actually with his lover in Argentina. Sanford ended up being censored.
Bowers also represented Trump’s ally, Nikki Haley, when she faced ethical charges of illegal lobbying while still in the South Carolina legislature. Haley was acquitted in that investigation.
Bowers is a reputable member of the South Carolina Bar Association and the District of Columbia Bar Association, according to their directories. Bowers previously told the South Carolina Post and Courier that he hopes to “represent the former president.”
Barbier, who runs a small business in Columbia, joined the legal team earlier this week, according to the South Carolina Post-Courier. In perhaps his most visible case, Barbier defended Joey Meeks, a friend of sniper Emanuel AME Dylann Roof. Meeks, who pleaded guilty to telling others not to share with authorities that Roof was behind the massacre, was sentenced to 27 months in prison, according to the Post-Courier.
Barbier also defended a powerful South Carolina political agent accused in 2017 of conspiracy and illegal lobbying at the state house, the Post-Courier reported. This case was finally dropped.
Caroline Linton and Kathryn Watson contributed to this report.