Five lawyers for the impeachment case of former US President Donald Trump left the team just over a week ahead of the trial amid disagreements over his legal strategy, CNN reported, citing familiar sources.

This is a dramatic turn of events on Trump's second impeachment trial, which struggled to find lawyers willing to take on his case.

Two lawyers, who were expected to be the top two attorneys, are no longer on the team.  A source familiar with the change said it was a mutual decision to leave the team of lawyers.

A source told CNN that Trump wanted lawyers to argue that election fraud was massive and that the election had been stolen from him, rather than focusing on the legality of impeaching the president after he left office.

Trump was not receptive to discussions about how they should proceed in this regard.