A lawyer can’t just unilaterally fire a client for any reason. If a lawyer is representing a client before a tribunal (which usually means a court but in this instance I think this must also include the Senate), the lawyer can’t just walk out. The lawyer needs to get permission from the tribunal.
And permission is not easily granted. You can’t withdraw over personality differences (“Your Honor, this guy is an insufferable asshole!”) You can’t withdraw over a fee dispute (the lawyer’s remedy there is a contract lawsuit. No, only very serious reasons justify a permissive withdrawal, especially when the stakes are so high and the matter is so close to trial (Trump’s pre-trial memo is due on Tuesday!).
Something must have come up that is very serious, which threatens the administration of justice. I credit the reporting that it’s probably based on Trump’s demand that the lawyers argue election fraud. No self-respecting lawyer is going to risk her reputation, and the risk of getting disbarred, for lying to a tribunal.
So finally I have a process question: in an unusual situation like this to whom would the lawyer address a withdrawal request? The President Pro Tempore of the Senate? The President of the Senate? Can they just file a blustering nonspecific statement to the Senate at large claiming they have ethical reasons why they can’t go on?
I’ve been watching and reading tons of coverage on this without avail.