Trump’s Legal Team Faces Shift as Lawyer Steps Down Prior to E Jean Carroll Hearing
Surprisingly, Joe Tacopina, an attorney for ex-President Donald Trump, has withdrawn from Trump’s legal team just one day before the start of the trial in the E Jean Carroll case.
Carroll accused Trump of defamation in 2019, alleging he sexually abused her in the mid-1990s, a claim that a jury upheld in a civil rape case led by Tacopina last year.
The withdrawal was confirmed through court documents filed on Monday, where Tacopina formally resigned from representing Trump in both the Carroll defamation case and the New York fraud case.
The latter involves allegations of hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and the falsification of business records. Tacopina, who accompanied Trump when he pleaded not guilty in April 2023, has not provided specific reasons for his sudden departure.
The upcoming trial in the Carroll case, set to begin on Tuesday, focuses solely on determining the damages Trump owes for making defamatory statements about Carroll. Judge Lewis Kaplan, who previously ruled that Trump defamed Carroll in 2019, emphasized that the trial would address damages only since the statements made in 2019 and 2022 were substantially the same.
Trump Faces 34 First-Degree Felony Charges
Donald Trump’s legal team, which includes Tacopina, has encountered numerous challenges in their attempts to delay the court processes, despite the fact that Trump is facing 34 first-degree felony counts in the fraud case.
Claims of presidential immunity, countersuits, and various requests for postponements have all been denied by Judge Kaplan and the US Court of Appeals.
Tacopina, known for representing high-profile clients such as rapper Meek Mill and baseball player Alex Rodriguez, has a prominent legal career.
Additionally, he is recognized in Italy for owning renowned soccer teams, including Venezia, Bologna, and SPAL. As the former president navigates these legal challenges, the sudden departure of Tacopina raises questions about the evolving dynamics within Trump’s legal defense team.
As the trial approaches, the specific reasons for Tacopina’s withdrawal remain shrouded in mystery, with no information or disclosure provided regarding the circumstances surrounding his decision to step back from the case.
