Michael Van der Veen, an attorney for former President Trump, got into a verbal scuffle with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), after the progressive lawmaker asked him during Friday’s impeachment trial question-and-answer session if he believes Trump won the 2020 election.
Sanders submitted a question noting that the House impeachment managers have claimed that Trump was carrying out a “big lie,” repeatedly stating that he actually won the election instead of now-President Biden.
Sanders asked, “Are the prosecutors right when they claim that Trump was telling a big lie, or in your judgment did Trump actually win the election?”
Van der Veen appeared annoyed by the question and he ultimately did not answer it.
“My judgment? Who asked that?” he asked, turning toward the Democratic side of the chamber.
Sanders yelled back: “I did.”
“My judgment is irrelevant,” Van der Veen replied.
His response sparked jeers from senators, leading Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to interrupt and remind senators that they can’t challenge the response offered by Trump’s team or the House impeachment managers.
Sanders was overheard by reporters in the chamber yelling back to Van der Veen, “You represent the president of the United States!”