Trump appoints new lawyers after impeachment defence team collapses

He had been abandoned by five lawyers due to disagreements over legal strategy less than two weeks before the beginning of the landmark impeachment proceedings.

David Schoen, a legal commentator known for his TV appearances, and Bruce Castor, a controversial former district attorney in Pennsylvania, will now head the legal team.

The pair are notably less distinguished than the lawyers who represented Trump in his first impeachment trial in 2019.

In a statement, Mr Castor said: “The strength of our Constitution is about to be tested like never before in our history. It is strong and resilient. A document written for the ages, and it will triumph over partisanship yet again, and always.”