Stephen R. Castor, the top Republican congressional lawyer who took on Democrats during Mr. Trump’s first impeachment, recommended his cousin, Bruce L. Castor Jr., a former prosecutor in Pennsylvania. Mr. Schoen believed he was still going to be in charge of the legal team. “Again, the president made clear that I was to take the lead and do most of the presenting,” Mr. Schoen said. My role was marginalized.”Mr. Schoen said that he mistakenly declined to push back on Mr. Castor’s plan. Mr. Schoen was still scheduled to make the opening argument on the first day of the trial.

Source: New York Times February 17, 2021 00:31 UTC