A key attorney in Former President Donald Trump’s legal team, Joseph Tacopina, has withdrawn from two New York court cases.
The cases include a criminal trial concerning accusations of hush money paid to a porn star and a civil defamation trial appeal.
Falsified Records Case
Tacopina has stepped down as legal counsel for the former president in a case involving alleged falsified business records initiated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. This case is preliminarily scheduled to start in March.
34 Felony Charges
Trump faces 34 felony charges related to purportedly falsifying business records, allegedly to conceal payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential race. These payments were reportedly made to cover up an alleged affair.
Historic Criminal Charges
DA Bragg brought the first criminal charges against Trump in March 2023, making Trump the first former president to be criminally indicted.
First Meeting with Trump
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, alleges that she initially encountered Trump in July 2006 at a golf tournament in Stateline, Nevada, situated on the shores of Lake Tahoe.
Alleged Sexual Encounter
She claims that Trump extended an invitation to his hotel suite, where they engaged in sexual activity, and he proposed the idea of her becoming a contestant on “Celebrity Apprentice.”
Trump’s Rebuttal
Trump has consistently denied any involvement in a sexual relationship with Daniels.
Trump’s Lawyer Guilty Plea
In 2018, Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, admitted to arranging a hush money payment under Trump’s direction before the 2016 election, aiming to suppress the story of an alleged sexual encounter.
Alleged Intimidation
In May 2011, Daniels had initially agreed to share her story with InTouch Weekly magazine, but the publication did not run the story due to reported threats of legal action from Cohen, who became aware of the interview.
Alleged Affair Article
The magazine eventually published the article in 2018 when reports of the alleged affair became public.
Nondisclosure Agreement
In a subsequent attempt to publicly share her story in 2016, Cohen facilitated a payment of $130,000 to Daniels in exchange for her signing a nondisclosure agreement, which occurred less than two weeks before the 2016 presidential election.
Reimbursement Payments
Court documents later revealed that the Trump Organization made a series of reimbursement payments to Cohen.
“I am Set to Testify”
On Sunday, Denials said she expects to testify in the hush money case. “Obviously, things have been next-level crazy, since I am set to testify in, at this point in time, March. Obviously, that can change any moment — in the hush money case,’ she remarked during an episode of the podcast “Beyond the Norm.”
Response to Tacopina’s exit
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, did not directly comment on Tacopina’s exit. However, he emphasized the strength of Trump’s legal team, describing it as “the most experienced, qualified, disciplined, and overall strongest legal team ever assembled.”
Unclear Reasons
The specific reasons behind Tacopina’s decision to withdraw from these cases remain undisclosed.
A Diverse Clientele
Tacopina’s legal career has been marked by representing high-profile clients, including Fox News host Sean Hannity, former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, and rapper A$AP Rocky, as noted by the New York Times.
Plea of Not Guilty
The trial is set to commence on March 25, with Trump, the Republican front-runner for the presidential nomination, pleading not guilty to all charges.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
Trump is currently involved in four criminal cases, totaling 91 felony counts.
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