‘Philly-delphia’: Trump attorney’s calls for depositions in home city draws laughter

In response to Raskin’s call to testify, van der Veen called for the trial to end Saturday without witnesses. But if there will be witnesses, he said he will need “over 100 depositions,” including of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“None of these depositions should be done by Zoom. We didn’t do this hearing by Zoom. These depositions should be done in person, in my office, in Philly-delphia,” van der Veen said, to laughter in the chamber.

“I don’t know why you’re laughing,” van der Veen said.

“It is civil process. That is the way lawyers do it,” van der Veen said. “We send notices of deposition.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the Senate president pro tempore who is presiding over the trial, called for order in the chamber.

“I haven’t laughed at any of you, and there’s nothing laughable here,” van der Veen said.