Trump hires South Carolina lawyer Bowers for impeachment trial

WASHINGTON: Former president Donald Trump has hired South Carolinabased lawyer Butch Bowers to represent him in his Senate impeachment trial over a charge that he incited violence, a source familiar with the matter said.

The development was first reported by Punchbowl News. Bowers, who has his own law office in South Carolina, has represented former Republican governors in South Carolina and served in the US Justice Department under former president George W. Bush, according to his website.

A Senate impeachment trial could begin next week, although Republicans are trying to delay it to give Trump time to prepare.

Trump has had a tough time retaining legal talent for his impeachment defence. He has had trouble hiring lawyers since former special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, and the widespread condemnation of violence at the Capitol and pressure from antiTrump groups may discourage others from signing up. — Reuters.