In a big blow to Donald Trump, several of his top impeachment lawyers have left just days before his trial begins, AFP reported, quoting US media. According to a media report, five lawyers, including two who were thought to be leading the team, parted ways with the Republican billionaire after disagreeing over his legal strategy.

According to a CNN report, Trump wanted his team to continue with his claims of a fraudulent election, rather than focussing on the “legality of convicting a president after he has left office”. The report added that he was “not receptive” to any discussion.

The lawyers included Butch Bowers and Deborah Barbier, expected to lead Trump’s defence, CNN and other outlets reported, saying it had been a “mutual decision.”

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“We have done much work, but have not made a final decision on our legal team, which will be made shortly,” tweeted Trump advisor Jason Miller in response to the reports.

This development leaves Trump facing new hurdles as he has been reportedly struggling to form a defence ahead of his historic second impeachment trial over the US Capitol riots.

However, even with his legal team in chaos, he looks increasingly likely to dodge conviction.

Nearly all senators from his party have signaled opposition to his trial and fueled efforts to censure him instead.

The trial — in which Trump faces a charge of “incitement of insurrection” — will begin on February 9.

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But with just five Republicans joining all 50 Democrats this week in agreeing that the trial should go forward, it appears unlikely that 17 Republicans would vote against Trump, the minimum number needed to reach the two-thirds threshold for conviction.

A censure would be less severe than expulsion but is a formal statement of disapproval.

It would still need 10 Republicans to go along in order to overcome any blocking tactics set out by Trump loyalists.

While a conviction would lead to a simple-majority vote on whether to bar Trump from holding any future public office, a censure resolution carries no such trigger.