Attorney David Schoen appeared on the Senate Floor of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday as a part of the authorized workforce defending former President Donald Trump throughout his impeachment trial.
As the nation watched the Alabama-based felony protection lawyer present his case for Trump, some on social media have been additionally paying shut consideration to Schoen’s actions ― and showcasing some misunderstanding about Jewish practices.
Several instances throughout his speech, Schoen positioned his hand over his head whereas he sipped water. Unaware of the non secular intent behind these actions, some started questioning and even mocking him on Twitter.
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, a progressive Jewish group, urged individuals to cease poking enjoyable at Schoen, an Orthodox Jew, for observing his religion.
“It is Jewish ritual, not an odd behavior to be mocked,” the group tweeted.
Eating and ingesting are thought-about holy acts within the Jewish custom ― and there are numerous blessings that accompany these actions. When a blessing or prayer is recited, it’s frequent for Orthodox Jewish males to cowl their heads, often with a yarmulke or kippah.
Schoen was not carrying a yarmulke throughout his speech, so he seems to have been observing that custom by inserting his hand on his head whereas ingesting.
Instead of mocking Schoen’s religion, Bend the Arc urged individuals to carry the lawyer accountable for his phrases.
“Please continue calling him out for making a mockery of our democracy & the concept of public speaking,” the group tweeted. “Our Jewish community rejects his attempts to defend Trump’s violent incitement.”
Schoen argued on Tuesday that the impeachment trial in opposition to Trump is unconstitutional. He claimed Democrats are being fueled by their “base hatred” of the ex-president and are “seeking to eliminate Donald Trump from the American political scene.”
“This trial will tear this country apart, perhaps like we’ve only seen once before in our history,” Schoen said, apparently referring to the Civil War. “It is wrong, as wrong can be for all of us as a nation.”
The Senate elected to proceed with the impeachment trial with a vote of 56-44, with six Republicans becoming a member of all 48 Democrats and two independents.
A two-thirds vote of 67 senators is required for conviction.
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