Joseph Tacopina, an attorney on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s legal team who is known for representing high-profile clients, is withdrawing from Trump’s cases. Tacopina said he will no longer represent Mr. Trump in a criminal case in Manhattan related to alleged hush money payments or a separate appeal of a civil case. Tacopina is a frequent cable news commentator who has represented high-profile clients including rapper Meek Mill, former Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriguez, Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle, Michael Jackson, and is currently representing rapper A$AP Rocky.

Tacopina confirmed to Reuters and The Hill that he has withdrawn from representing Trump in two of the former president’s ongoing legal battles.  Trump has pled not guilty to the charges, and will face a trial this year, although the  dates remain to be determined.  Tacopina also confirmed will no longer represent Trump in his appeal of a verdict in a civil case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of rape. A jury in May awarded Carroll $5 million after finding Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation (Trump has also maintained his innocence in that case.). Tacopina’s withdrawal comes one day before Carroll is set to take him to trial a second time seeking damages for defamation.  The shift in Trump’s legal team comes as Iowans are set to cast the first votes in the 2024 campaign, with Trump as an early favorite in the caucuses.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said regarding Tacopina’s withdrawal in a statement: “President Trump has the most experienced, qualified, disciplined, and overall strongest legal team ever assembled as he continues to fight for America and Americans against these partisan, Crooked Joe Biden-led election interference hoaxes.” At least three members of Trump’s legal team in Florida stepped down after Trump was indicted in June on charges he unlawfully kept national-security documents when he left office.

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