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Who is Michael van der Veen? Trump lawyer exclaims 'Jiminy Crickets', Internet says 'he has conscience, you don't'

The lawyer stunned everyone by saying 'holy cow' and 'Jiminy Crickets' while answering the House of Managers during Trump's second Impeachment Trial

There were a lot of uncertainties surrounding the specifics of Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. Many believed that the trial would not be able to sustain and Trump would have no trouble in saving himself from all the misery. However, video evidence show that inside the Senate there were some massive setbacks for Trump and his team of lawyers.

On Day 4 of the trial, it was the turn of Trump’s team of lawyers to defend their client and they did so by not taking ownership of anything he did during his term. However, one of his lawyers, Michael van der Veen, made himself a laughing stock after using the words “Jiminy Crickets” and “holy cow” while answering a question asked by the House managers.

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Before going into the specifics of why he used those words, let’s dig deeper into how Donald Trump, who once had Rudy Giuliani as his attorney, chose a new team of lawyers to represent himself at the second Impeachment Trial.

Donald Trump’s new team of attorneys

Former President Donald Trump parted ways with his lead impeachment lawyers just two weeks before his second impeachment trial was about to begin. Sources told Associated Press that Deborah Barbier and Butch Bowers decided to leave the defense team and described it as a “mutual decision.” Trump did not take much time in announcing his new team of lawyers because he was “not happy” with the performance of his trial lawyers. The former president’s office announced that David Schoen and Bruce Castor Jr will now lead the legal team and represent him in the Senate.

“Schoen has already been working with the 45th President and other advisers to prepare for the upcoming trial, and both Schoen and Castor agree that this impeachment is unconstitutional ― a fact 45 Senators voted in agreement with last week,” a press release said.

Apart from them, two lawyers from Philadelphia were also named in Trump’s new team of lawyers.  Michael T. van der Veen and William J. Brennan spent hours making strategies on how they should go forward with the trial. And the day finally arrived when van der Veen finally got a chance to represent the former president in the Senate. He started his address by dismissing the proceedings as “constitutional cancel culture”. But little did he know that his words and actions would make him an Internet sensation.

Who is Michael van der Veen?

Born in 1963, Michael Van der Veen is an American attorney who specializes in personal injury law. He is also the founder of the firm van der Veen, O'Neill, Hartshorn, and Levin. According to his website, he is a member of the bar in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. van der Veen is also the treasurer of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers’ Association.

“Jiminy Crickets” and the rise of another Internet sensation

During the impeachment trial, The House Managers started asking questions to the lawyers and wanted them to answer about Trump’s role in the attack that took place at the US Capitol in Washington DC and why police were caught “off-guard” when the attack happened. The question asked was: “The House Managers assert that the January 6 attack was predictable and it was foreseeable. If so, why did it appear that the law enforcement at the capitol was caught off-guard and unable to prevent the breach? Why did the house sergeant at arms reportedly turn down the request to activate the National Guard, stating that he was not comfortable with the optics.”

van der Veen started the answers in the most unexpected way and said, “Holy cow, that is a really good question.” He attacked the House Managers for “not doing their investigation” and exclaimed “Jiminy Crickets” while telling the senate that “there is no due process in this proceeding at all.”

Jiminy Cricket is a highly-intelligent cricket depicted donning a top hat and tailcoat, with an umbrella in the 1940 Disney animated feature 'Pinocchio'. The wisecracking cricket was one of the major characters in the movie and joined Pinocchio on his journey to becoming a real boy.

Social media users were left in dismay after hearing his statement and quickly got to their keyboards. Many believed that the lawyer is not taking the impeachment trial seriously while others wanted him to not take Jiminy Cricket’s name because 'he had a conscience and van der Veen doesn’t. One user said: ""Jiminy Crickets" "Holy cow" and "ask the House Managers" is not exactly what one would expect from Trump's attorney when he is asked to answer a question."

Writer and historian Michael Beschloss asked, "What kind of human being would hire a van der Veen to go before the Senate?" while yet another user chimed in: "If I was on trial and my defense lawyer used the phrases “holy cow” and “jiminy crickets” I would simply lock myself up. I would deserve prison. #ImpeachmentTrial"