Donald Trump has been the subject of mockery following the departure of three lawyers, Joe Tacopina and his partners Chad Seigel and Matthew DeOreo, who had been defending him in legal issues.
Three Lawyers Exit
Following the resignation of three of Trump’s lawyers in a single day, activists and internet users began widely mocking the former president for his apparent difficulty in retaining legal counsel.
Facing 34 Felony Counts
They represented Trump in a case involving an indictment that accused him of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, allegedly to conceal an affair before the 2016 election.
Trump has entered a plea of not guilty to the 34 felony counts in this case.
A Sudden Lawyer Exodus
They also withdrew from a defamation trial after E. Jean Carroll, a journalist, won a $5 million damages ruling against Trump for sexual assault and defamation.
No Reason Given
Tacopina formally requested to withdraw his firm’s representation of Trump in the Carroll case on Monday, also seeking Judge Lewis Kaplan’s permission for his partners to do the same. Notably, Tacopina didn’t provide a ‘legal or factual basis to withdraw’ in this document.
Lawyer Requests Withdrawal
In his legal filing, Tacopina stated, “I respectfully submit this Declaration in support of [Tacopina Seigel and DeOreo’s] motion, made pursuant to Local Civil Rule 27.1, to withdraw as counsel (including TSD attorneys Joseph Tacopina, Chad D. Seigel and Matthew G. DeOreo) for Trump, with such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.”
‘Sinking ship’
Following the lawyers’ withdrawal, Democratic critics of Trump have been quick to mock the situation. A notable comment from Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) on X (formerly Twitter) read, “It look like the rats are fleeing the sinking ship.”
Star Lawyer Exits
They added, “Tacopina was known as the most formidable member of Trump’s legal team, given the fact that he has the most successes defending prominent client. This is like a football team losing their star quarterback right before the Superbowl.”
A Major Setback?
Mary Trump, a frequent critic and the former president’s estranged niece, reflected in her Substack blog, “The loss of counsel is a major set back for any defense. This close to trial, lawyers will have spent hundreds, perhaps thousands of hours compiling evidence and gaining an understanding of the nuances of the case.”
‘Too Bad’ Situation
Adding to her commentary, Mary Trump said, “New lawyers might not have to start from scratch, but catching up would be a difficult task.” She then expressed in what seemed like an ironic manner, “And that is just too too bad.”
Sarcastic Take
The social media account Boston Smalls (@smalls2672), known for its anti-Trump stance, commented, “I see another Trump lawyer quit. Hey Maga, remember when trump was running for president and he was like, ‘we’re gonna win so much you’re gonna get tired of winning?’ How’s that working out?”
So Much Winning?
Another account (@AmoneyResists) with over 240,000 followers, remarked, “Trump’s lawyer in the punitive damages E. Jean Carroll case just filed to dump him as a client one day before the trial starts.”
“So. Much. Winning.”
Trump’s Lawyer Turnover
Donald Trump is dealing with a constantly changing lineup of lawyers amidst his ongoing legal challenges, and Tacopina and his partners are not the first to leave Trump’s legal team.
Sign of Trouble?
Over the past three years, several attorneys have stepped away from representing him in various cases, including allegations of trying to overturn the 2020 election results, federal investigations into classified documents and the January 6th events, and criminal inquiries in New York and Georgia. Trump has asserted his innocence in all four criminal cases.
Trump’s Ex-Lawyer Weighs In
Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for Trump who has become a critic, commented on Trump’s ongoing issues with securing competent legal representation, citing Trump’s “erratic legal requests” and history of delayed payments.
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