Tim Parlatore was an attorney for Donald Trump and called out “issues”, Saturday, with Joe Tacopina, another Trump attorney, who represented the former president in the New York case regarding “hush money”.
On Thursday, a Manhattan grand jury indicted the former President in a case that Manhattan District attorney Alvin Bragg had been investigating. The former president is accused in illegally concealing a payment that Michael Cohen made to Stormy Daniels, a former lawyer, in return for her silence about an affair they allegedly had in 2006.
Trump has denied the affair and maintains his innocence in the case, accusing prosecutors of engaging in a politically-motivated witch hunt. Prosecutors believe that the payment was in violation of campaign finance laws. His legal team stated that he will surrender to New York City for arraignment on Tuesday. He is also expected to plead not guilty to the charges.
As the Manhattan case heats up, potential problems have emerged with Tacopina who is representing Trump in this case. CNN reports that Daniels’ lawyers presented Bragg with a collection exchanges between Tacopina and her back in 2018. Although the contents of the exchanges are not known, they could be a conflict of interests for Tacopina if Daniels receives legal advice. He could be removed from the case.
Joe Tacopina, a lawyer, is seen at a rally in 2018. Tacopina faces a conflict of interest in representing Donald Trump in the Manhattan district attorney case against him.
Brian Stukes/Getty Images
Tacopina, for his part, has denied any conflict of interests and insists that he has never met or spoken to Daniels.
Parlatore, the lawyer who represents Trump against allegations that Trump tried to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential elections, appeared on CNN on Saturday. He touched on the “issues surrounding Tacopina”, but he declined to make a detailed comment.
“As far as who’s going try the case? I know Joe has some potential conflict issues…I don’t want to comment on Joe Tacopina,” Parlatore stated, stressing that it is up to the client to decide which one, which is Trump.
Asked if Tacopina is the right person to take this case to trial, Trump attorney Tim Parlatore: “I know that Susan Necheles is a phenomenal attorney…As to who’s going to try the case, I know Joe has certain potential conflict issues…I’m not going to comment on Joe Tacopina.” pic.twitter.com/2hSvvp8dxj
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 1, 2023
Tacopina stated that previous contacts with Daniels were made through someone speaking on her behalf and that he declined to work with her.
“I have not met Stormy Daniels or reviewed her documents. Tacopina stated that someone asked Tacopina if she would represent Stormy Daniels.
Newsweek reached out via email to Trump’s communications team for comment.
“If Daniels had consulted with Trump’s lawyer, and she sought legal advice or provided confidential information, then there is attorney client privilege attached and there is a conflict of interest,” Neama Rahmani (an ex-federal prosecutor) stated in a prior statement to Newsweek.
Rahmani said that Daniels would be a witness in a Manhattan District Attorney’s Office criminal case. “Trump’s lawyer will have to withdraw from representing him, and if he does not do so, Daniels, prosecutors, could file a motion disqualifying him.”
