Former President Donald J. Trump has made changes to his legal defense team in Georgia just before surrendering himself for booking on 13 felony counts. He has added Steve Sadow, a veteran criminal defense lawyer known for taking on high-profile cases. Sadow filed a document with the court stating that he is now the “lead counsel of record” for Trump. This decision comes after Trump’s other lawyer, Drew Findling, negotiated a $200,000 bond for him. Findling is expected to be let go, while another lawyer, Jennifer Little, will be retained. Trump wants a more “sophisticated” legal team, according to sources.
The Georgia indictment, targeting not only Trump but also several of his allies, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, is the fourth criminal case filed against Trump this year. As of now, almost half of the 19 defendants have been booked at the Fulton County Jail. Legal maneuvering is ongoing, with some defendants seeking to move their cases to federal court and others filing speedy-trial demands. The ultimate timing of a trial or trials remains uncertain. The office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis is prosecuting the case and has requested that arraignments take place in early September.
Trump has a history of frequently changing his legal team and refusing to pay lawyers. The lawyers working on his behalf for these cases are being paid with funds donated by his supporters after the 2020 election. Steve Sadow is a well-known criminal defense lawyer in Atlanta and has represented high-profile clients in the past, including rappers T.I., Rick Ross, and Usher. Sadow had previously worked on the notorious Gold Club scandal involving an Atlanta strip club with ties to organized crime. Just like Drew Findling, Sadow has expressed criticism towards Trump in the past but now stands as his lead counsel.
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