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Michael Thomas van der Veen[1] (born September 16, 1963) is an American attorney who specializes in civil litigation and criminal defense.[2] He represented former president Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial in the United States Senate, which resulted in acquittal on February 13, 2021.

Early life and education

Van der Veen was born September 16, 1963, in Norwich, Connecticut.[3][4][5] He attended Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut, graduating in 1981. He next attended Ohio Wesleyan University and graduated in 1985. He attended law school at Quinnipiac University School of Law, receiving a Juris Doctor degree in 1988. He also received an LLM degree in trial advocacy from Temple University School of Law.[2]

Career

Overview

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, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim. His litigation practice includes criminal and personal injury litigation. He has represented clients in connection with motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, dog bites, product defects, and police brutality.[2] He has represented criminal defendants accused of rape, drunk driving, drug trafficking, embezzlement, and murder.[2] His other high-profile clients include: The Trump Organization, Brandon "Bam" Margera, Phil Nordo, the estate of Fanta Bility, and numerous January 6 defendants.

In August 2020, van der Veen represented a client suing President Donald Trump, alleging that Trump's attacks on the U.S. Postal Service were unsupported by evidence.[6][7] The suit alleged: "These actions... arise in an environment subject to repeated claims by President Donald J. Trump that voting by mail is ripe with fraud, despite having no evidence in support of these claims . . ."[8]

In 2022, Trump's Save America political action committee paid van der Veen, Hartshorn and Levin $1.4 million in legal fees.[9]

Trump impeachment trial

Main article: Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump

On February 12 and 13, 2021, van der Veen presented arguments for the defense of Donald Trump at the former president's second impeachment trial.[5] On February 13, 2021, the Senate reacted with gasps and laughter when van der Veen stated he would seek to depose at least 100 people for the trial at his Philadelphia office, including Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris, mispronouncing the name "Philadelphia."[10][11] He responded, "I don’t know how many civil lawyers are here, but that’s the way it works folks. I don’t know why you’re laughing. It is civil process. That is the way lawyers do it."[12] His efforts were widely criticized for inaccuracies and use of misleading media.[13][14][15][16]

At the conclusion of the trial, the Senate voted 57–43 to convict Donald Trump of inciting insurrection in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.[17] Trump was acquitted because the U.S. Constitution requires that two-thirds of the Senate must vote for conviction.[18] Seven Republican senators voted to convict Donald Trump, the largest bipartisan vote for an impeachment conviction of a U.S. president.[19]

Following the Senate trial, van der Veen angrily argued with CBS News anchor Lana Zak, after she disagreed that evidence was doctored against Trump, and he ended the interview by ripping off his microphone.[20][21]

Van der Veen was played by Pete Davidson in the cold open of Saturday Night Live on February 13, 2021. Davidson satirized van der Veen's use of the term "Jiminy Cricket" and his pronunciation of Philadelphia.[22] His home in suburban Philadelphia was vandalized with graffiti and a small group of protesters picketed outside his law office in Philadelphia.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Michael Thomas van der Veen bio". justia.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Michael T. van der Veen". MTVlaw.com. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Hubbell, Martindale (December 1997). Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory: Volume 7; Illinois, Indiana, Iowa (1998). Martindale-Hubbell. ISBN 9781561602490.
  4. ^ Aayush Sharma (February 12, 2021). "Who is Michael van der Veen? Trump lawyer exclaims 'Jiminy Crickets', Internet says 'he has conscience, you don't'". meaww.com.
  5. ^ a b Bade, Rachael; Ryan, Lizza; Palmeri, Tara; Daniels, Eugene (February 10, 2021). "Playbook: Trump is furious, and McConnell might vote to convict". Politico Playbook. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. farther down the article under "More on Impeachment II", a quote from the Philadelphia Inquirer states that a couple of years before defending him in the second impeachment trial, van der Veen described Trump as "a [expletive] crook"
  6. ^ Jeremy Roebuck; Anna Orso (February 10, 2021). "More Philly lawyers are on Trump's impeachment defense team and one sued the president last year". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  7. ^ Amy Gardner (February 9, 2021). "One of Trump's impeachment lawyers sued him last year — and accused him of making claims about fraud with 'no evidence'". The Washington Post.
  8. ^ Jerry Lambe (February 9, 2021). "Lawyer Who Recently Joined Trump's Impeachment Defense Team Previously Sued Him for Repeatedly Making Voter Fraud Claims 'Despite Having No Evidence'". Law & Crime.
  9. ^ Polantz, Katelyn (February 22, 2023). "Trump leadership PAC spent more than $16 million on legal services in 2022". CNN.
  10. ^ "Senate laughs during Trump lawyer's speech". CNN. February 13, 2021. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "Senate Erupts In Laughter After Trump Lawyer Says Impeachment Depositions Need To Happen 'In Person In His Office In Philadelphia". The Hill. February 13, 2021. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Roebuck, Jeremy (February 13, 2021). "From laughs over 'Philly-delphia' to vandalism at home, Trump lawyer Michael van der Veen draws backlash". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  13. ^ Qiu, Linda (February 13, 2021). "Trump's Lawyers Repeated Inaccurate Claims in Impeachment Trial". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  14. ^ Board, Editorial. "Opinion | Trump's lawyers had no defense because there is none". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  15. ^ Perano, Alayna Treene,Ursula. "Impeachment trial recap, day 4: Trump's team concludes speedy defense". Axios. Retrieved February 13, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Trump lawyer struggles to answer key questions from Republican senators". news.yahoo.com. February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  17. ^ Fandos, Nicholas; Cochrane, Emily (February 13, 2021). "Impeachment Trial Live Updates: Trump Is Acquitted by the Senate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  18. ^ "U.S. Senate: Impeachment". www.senate.gov. Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  19. ^ Broadwater, Luke (February 13, 2021). "Here are the seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "Trump attorney rips off mic after questioning from CBSN anchor". CBS News. February 13, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  21. ^ Chung, Frank (February 16, 2021). "Trump lawyer Michael van der Veen accused of 'mansplaining tirade' after angry TV interview". Nationwide News Pty Limited. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  22. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (February 13, 2021). "'Saturday Night Live' Responds to Donald Trump's Acquittal (Watch)". Variety. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_van_der_Veen