Former US president Donald Trump’s impeachment trial begins on 9 February. So it’s a bit late in the day for him to change his legal representation as he defends the charge ‘incitement of insurrection’ after pro-Trump supporters charged the Capitol on 6 January. Unnamed insiders say it was a “mutual decision” for lead South Carolina lawyer Karl ‘Butch’ Bowers – a well-regarded ethics attorney – to up stumps with his deputy Deborah Barbier after a disagreement on strategy. Reports say Trump has found it hard to find a top-notch team because prominent lawyers didn’t want to risk it now he’s out of power.