" Trump impeachment trial
Schoen was one of the lawyers representing Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial in the United States Senate. On the first day of the trial, Schoen presented a legal argument that the Senate lacked jurisdiction to try a former president.[6] He contended that the impeachment was fueled by "base hatred" and a "lust for impeachment". He also held up a copy of Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung (commonly known as "Mao's Little Red Book") in comparing the impeachment to the actions of authoritarian regimes.[7]

Schoen closed his argument on day one with an emotional recital of a portion of the 1849 poem, "The Building of the Ship" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.[8][9] A CNN account described Schoen as "nearly weeping" and seeming to "choke back tears" as he read the poem.[10]

While the argument of co-counsel Bruce Castor was widely panned, The New York Times credited Schoen with offering "a more spirited performance" that "heartened" the former president.[11] Through the fourth day of Senate proceedings Schoen spoke a total of 43 minutes.[12]

Interviewed after the trial, Schoen said that the defense team was plagued by poor internal communication and coordination and other management issues.[13]

Steve Bannon defense
Schoen represented former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon in 2022, after Bannon was indicted for criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to testify before the January 6 committee.[14] Days before Bannon's trial was to begin, Schoen made court motions in Bannon's defense to presiding judge Carl Nichols, which were rejected. Schoen asked the court, "what's the point of going to trial if there are no defenses?", to which Nichols replied, "agreed," hinting that Bannon should seek a plea deal.[15][16][17] Bannon went to trial after Judge Nichols dismissed Bannon's defense of executive privilege and other defenses and was found guilty on two counts. The Justice Department argued for a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $200,000 fine but Nichols sentenced Bannon to four months incarceration and a $6,500 fine.[18][19] Bannon appealed his conviction and sentence, and remained free and un-fined pending his appeal. [20]"