Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Home of Trump impeachment lawyer vandalized
>> Police are looking for the person or persons who vandalized the West Whiteland home of Michael van der Veen, one of former President Donald Trump’s impeachment lawyers.
West Whiteland Police said the vandalism took place Friday, Feb. 12, sometime between 8:15 a.m. and 8 p.m. at van der Veen’s home on the 500 block of Anthony Drive in West Whiteland.
The word “Traitor” was painted in red at the entrance of van der Veen’s driveway and an arrow pointing to his home. Eggs were also thrown at his front door. The crime occurred just one day before the Senate voted 57-43 to acquit Trump.
Van deer Veen has also received death threats.
“My home was attacked. I’d rather not go into it because it would encourage other people to do it more, but you know, I’ve had nearly 100 death threats,” van der Veen said, according to an AP pool report.
Van der Veen has since updated his home with private security, and police presence around his home has been beefed up.
Demonstrators gathered outside van der Veen’s law office in Philadelphia after the vandalism, calling him a fascist, among other things. The incidents took place as the Senate was taking testimony in Trump’s second impeachment trial.
Van der Veen said he plans to resign from the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association after disagreements erupted between him and the organization, according to a published report in law.com. The move comes after numerous attorneys in the Philadelphia trial bar have criticized van der Veen’s role defending Trump while also holding the position of treasurer for the professional organization.
Van der Veen has been an attorney since 1988. He is a founder of the Philadelphia criminal and personal injury law firm, Van der Veen, O’Neill, Hartshorn, Levin. His litigation practice includes criminal and personal injury litigation.
Van der Veen was ridiculed on the cold open of “Saturday Night Live” on Feb. 13, in which he was played by Pete Davidson.
Anyone with information on the incident at van der Veen’s home is asked to contact Detective Scott Pezick at 610-363-0200 ext. 1017 or spezick@westwhiteland.org.