CNN
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A New York Supreme Court judge has ruled that 2018 communications with adult film star Stormy Daniels should not sideline defense attorney Joe Tacopina from representing former President Donald Trump in his criminal attempt in connection with an alleged hush money scheme to silence Daniels.
Daniels’ communications with Tacopina and others at his firm included details related to Daniels’ condition when he sought legal representation in 2018, his current attorney, Clark Brewster, told CNN in March.
Brewster, who claimed the communications showed a disclosure of confidential information from Daniels, said he turned over the exchanges to prosecutors. Ethics experts told CNN at the time that limitations could be placed on Tacopina, including disqualification.
However, Tacopina did not ask Daniels if he would stand trial. “The court accepts your suggestion that you not participate in the cross-examination of Ms. Daniels if she is called as a witness at trial,” Judge Juan Merchan wrote.
Tacopina maintained no conflict of interest and said no confidential information was shared with him or his office.
Merchan ultimately sided with Trump’s attorney in a letter written earlier this month telling Tacopina that he accepted the defense attorney’s representations without conflict.
The judge also said he would revisit the Trump issue at his next court appearance in February.
“I said from Day One that there was no conflict. Now the court said the same,” Tacopina told CNN on Monday in response to the letter.
Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office first flagged Merchan’s potential conflict with Trump’s arraignment in April, saying Daniels was likely to be a witness in Trump’s criminal trial.
Trump, who has denied the alleged relationship with Daniels, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the alleged hush money scheme.
Merchan instructed the former president to seek advice from other lawyers on the matter while it was playing out.
Since the April arraignment, the parties have submitted briefs and met for a sealed proceeding in July to further discuss the potential conflict, according to Merchan’s letter.
