In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump has added veteran criminal defense lawyer Steve Sadow to his legal defense team before surrendering himself at a jail in Atlanta. Trump’s decision came after his previous lawyer, Drew Findling, negotiated a $200,000 bond for him in a sweeping racketeering indictment that accused him and 18 others of engaging in a “criminal enterprise” to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Findling is expected to be let go from the team, while another lawyer, Jennifer Little, will be retained. Sadow stated that Trump is innocent of all charges and criticized the prosecution as politically motivated.
Trump’s visit to the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, where he is likely to be fingerprinted and photographed, attracted early morning demonstrators who carried signs and shouted slogans in support of the former president. The indictment against Trump is the fourth criminal case filed against him this year, targeting not only him but also his allies, including Rudolph Giuliani and Mark Meadows. Amid the legal maneuvering and challenges, the timing of a trial remains uncertain. Trump has a history of changing legal teams frequently and refusing to pay lawyers for their work, although the lawyers currently representing him are being paid through donations made by supporters after the 2020 election.
Steve Sadow, a well-regarded criminal defense lawyer known for representing high-profile cases, has been added to Trump’s legal team in Georgia. In the past, Sadow has represented rap clients such as T.I., Rick Ross, and Gunna, as well as other high-profile figures like Howard K. Stern, the boyfriend of Anna Nicole Smith. Sadow’s addition to the team comes after Trump’s previous lawyer, Drew Findling, negotiated his bond. Findling is expected to be let go, while lawyer Jennifer Little will remain. Sadow has already spoken out, stating that Trump is innocent of all charges and criticizing the prosecution as politically motivated. Trump’s decision to reconfigure his legal team is not unusual, as he has had numerous lawyers throughout his career and has been known to refuse payment for their services. The timing of any trial for the 19 defendants, including Trump, remains uncertain as legal challenges are currently underway.