Former President Donald Trump is reportedly unhappy with his attorney Todd Blanche’s performance in his criminal trial in Manhattan, believing the lawyer is not aggressive enough against witnesses, the judge, and the jury pool. Trump has criticized Blanche for not following his directives and being too passive. Blanche, along with two other attorneys, is representing Trump in his trial, where he faces charges related to falsifying business records in connection to hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels.
Blanche’s negative attention during a recent hearing over a gag order violation and his failure to cross-examine witnesses have raised concerns about his effectiveness in representing Trump. Despite these issues, Blanche has been Trump’s favorite attorney in the past and also represents him in his other federal criminal cases. Trump has paid Blanche’s firm $4 million through his PAC, Save America, since his indictment in Manhattan, questioning the high legal fees but not indicating any plans to remove Blanche from his legal team.
As Trump’s trial continues for another five weeks, it remains to be seen if Trump’s dissatisfaction with Blanche will impact the case’s outcome. Blanche’s defenders argue that aggressively attacking witnesses and jurors could backfire and harm Trump’s defense, necessitating a more measured approach. The charges against Trump relate to reimbursement payments made to Michael Cohen for hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, which prosecutors allege were falsely labeled as legal expenses. Blanche, a former federal prosecutor, has represented Trump since his first indictment in the case.
While Trump and his lawyers focus on fighting the Manhattan trial, questions remain about Blanche’s role and effectiveness in defending the former president. Trump’s payments to his legal team have raised eyebrows, given the significant amount of funding provided through Save America. Despite the challenges and criticisms, Blanche continues to represent Trump in his criminal trial, which has garnered significant attention and scrutiny. As the trial progresses, all eyes will be on how Blanche navigates the legal proceedings and whether Trump’s concerns about his lawyer will impact the case’s outcome.
