On Saturday morning, the Senate echoed with what had become, by Day 5 of former President Donald J. Trump\u2019s impeachment trial, a familiar sound: the raised voice of Mr. Trump\u2019s most combative and animated defense lawyer, Michael T. van der Veen.<\/p>\n
Mr. van der Veen erupted after House impeachment managers made a last-minute request to call a Republican congresswoman, Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington, as a witness \u2014 via video call \u2014 after she claimed knowledge of statements by Mr. Trump in which he sided with the mob that attacked the Capitol.<\/p>\n
The exchange became so heated that the trial\u2019s presiding officer, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, admonished Mr. van der Veen and others to observe the chamber\u2019s rules of decorum. The scolding came shortly after Mr. Leahy had issued a similar warning when Democrats laughed at the defense lawyer.<\/p>\n
The testy back-and-forth on Saturday came when Mr. van der Veen argued \u2014 in a tone that at times neared shouting \u2014 that Democrats had broken a pledge to wrap up the trial, followed by a threat to call top figures in the party to testify in person.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of depositions that need to happen,\u201d he said. \u201cNancy Pelosi\u2019s deposition needs to be taken. Vice President Harris\u2019s deposition absolutely needs to be taken. And not by Zoom. None of these depositions should be done by Zoom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese depositions should be done in person, in my office, in Philadelphia,\u201d added Mr. van der Veen, a personal injury lawyer, who pronounced the name of his hometown with a distinct Philadelphia accent. <\/p>\n
At that point, several senators began snickering audibly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would remind everybody that we will have order in the chamber during these proceedings,\u201d Mr. Leahy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t laughed at any of you, and there\u2019s nothing laughable here,\u201d Mr. van der Veen interjected angrily.<\/p>\n
A few moments later, he accused Democrats of cutting a \u201cback-room deal\u201d and went on to question their integrity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have completely violated and ignored and stepped on the Constitution of the United States,\u201d he said. \u201cThey have trampled on it like people who have no respect for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
At that point, Mr. Leahy leaned into the microphone at the presiding officer\u2019s desk, with its commanding view of the Senate floor, and said, \u201cAll parties in this chamber must refrain from using language that is not conducive to civil discourse.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was not the first time Mr. Leahy had to intervene to rein in Mr. van der Veen. On Friday, he called for order after a testy exchange between the lawyer and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont nearly devolved into a shouting match.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, after the Senate voted to allow witnesses, Mr. van der Veen got worked up again. That time, however, he reached for calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me take my own advice,\u201d he said, \u201cand cool the temperature in the room a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n