Trump’s highly influential lawyer has decided to withdraw from his cases on Monday.

Joe Tacopina, who has been Trump’s lawyer in his New York trial and has represented many high-profile cases, decided to withdraw from the current cases against Trump.

He has represented Trump in both his criminal cases, the one related to the hush money case and a sexual lawsuit filed against him by E. Jean Carroll, which have been Trump’s ongoing legal battles.

However, he did not disclose any reason for the withdrawal as he confirmed it to the Hill. He announced his decision one day before Carroll was ready for a second trial against Trump and on the same day as Trump hailed victory in his Iowa Caucuses. 

Tacopina was not representing Trump in the Carroll case about to go for a second trial but had represented Trump in his appeal during last year’s verdict. On Monday he sent the notice mentioning the withdrawal of his firm as Trump’s counsel for the further proceedings.

Tacopina’s past works 

Trump is not the only high-profile personality he has handled. The former Brooklyn prosecutor is known for representing Michael Jackson, A-Rod, Meek Mill and A$AP Rocky. 

He is currently defending A$AP in two criminal assault cases, to which the rapper pleaded not guilty this month. However, he gained more attention since he started representing Trump in 2023.

He has defended Trump during his hush-money case trial where he was charged with 34 cases for falsifying business records by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Representing Trump in the lawsuit trial by Carroll in 2023 after she accused him of sexual assault. The case was well documented and thought off by Tacopina as the jury couldn’t find enough evidence to prove him guilty of rape.

These two are the major cases against Trump which could affect the trials without Tacopina. He filed the notice of withdrawal from both the cases on Monday. 

For the defamation lawsuit by Carroll, he filed the withdrawal notice to the Appeals Court and for the hush money case to the Manhattan Supreme Court.

A Possible Reason for the Withdrawal

Steve Cheung Trump’s spokesman stated to Reuters about the withdrawal where he mentioned Trump’s legal team be the most qualified and strongest of all.

However, some of Trump’s lawyers called him “dumb” and a “loudmouth” in a statement given to Rolling Stone by a close source of Trump. Another source also told the magazine that Tacopina pissed many of Trump’s lawyers, which might be a reason for his withdrawal from Trump’s cases.

Tacopina is not the only lawyer to withdraw from Trump’s legal team, at least three members had already withdrawn after Trump was indicted in June for his illegal possession of national security documents.

On Monday, he withdrew from the cases along with his firm Tacopina, Seigel & DeOreo.