Trump’s current lawyer, Joe Tacopina, previously expressed concerns over the Stormy Daniels hush-money payment that could pose a “real problem” for Trump. CNN obtained video footage from 2018 that showed Tacopina speaking about the payment, which he said could have violated federal election laws. Since joining Trump’s team, Tacopina has taken a different stance, claiming that Trump is the victim of an extortion plot.
The DA’s probe into the hush-money payment has been ongoing, and legal experts have suggested that state prosecutors may have a challenging time bringing criminal charges against Trump. They are most likely to charge him with a felony violation of New York’s business records statute, but they would need to prove that he committed a secondary crime, such as violating federal campaign finance laws.
While Tacopina’s previous comments may be damning for Trump, it remains to be seen whether they will impact the ongoing investigations. The former president has previously denied any wrongdoing and has dismissed Cohen’s testimony, questioning his credibility.
As the legal battles continue to play out, many are watching closely to see whether Trump will be held accountable for any of his alleged misdeeds. In the meantime, his legal team will likely continue to vigorously defend him, arguing that he has done nothing wrong and that the investigations are politically motivated.