A lawyer leading former President Donald Trump’s defense in his impeachment trial withdrew a request to not hold any sessions during the Jewish Sabbath, TPM reported on Tuesday.
David Schoen, who is an observant Jew, explained the change in a letter, saying “Based on adjustments that have been made on the President’s defense team, I am writing today to withdraw my request so that the proceedings can go forward as originally contemplated before I made my request.”
Schoen added that “I will not participate during the Sabbath; but the role I would have played will be fully covered to the satisfaction of the defense team.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had already said that Schoen’s original request not to hold sessions on the Sabbath would be accommodated.
CNN reported that Schoen explained his withdrawal of the request by stating that not holding sessions on the Sabbath would cause the Senate to “lose Friday evening and all day Saturday that you previously intended to have for the trial,” adding that “I very much appreciated your decision; but I remained concerned about the delay in the proceedings.”
Schoen’s original letter had stated that “I apologize for the inconvenience my request that impeachment proceedings not be conducted during the Jewish Sabbath undoubtedly will cause other people involved in the proceedings. The practices and prohibitions are mandatory for me, however; so, respectfully, I have no choice but to make this request.”
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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