According to a report, Alina Habba, a legal representative and spokesperson for former President Trump, has been replaced in a case involving a former high-ranking official at the Trump Organization.
The change was noted in a court filing on April 7, with Habba being substituted by Armen Morian, described as her “dear friend,” to represent Allen Weisselberg, the former CFO of the Trump Organization.
Weisselberg is involved in an ongoing legal matter. Both Habba and Morian have ties to former President Trump. Weisselberg formally notified Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing a civil fraud case initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James against Donald Trump and some of his associates, about the change in legal representation.
Speaking to Newsweek, Habba said the change was agreed upon mutually, confirming that she departed on good terms and described Morian as “a dear friend.”
Habba said the change in Weisselberg’s representation was mutually agreed confirming they’d departed on good terms, and described Morian as “a dear friend.”
Referring to their respective law firms, Habba Madaio & Associates LLP and Morian Law PLLC, the filing stated: “IT IS HEREBY CONSENTED THAT MORIAN Law PLLC, 60 East 42nd Street, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10165, be substituted as counsel of record for Defendant, Allen Weisselberg, in place and stead of Habba Madaio & Associates LLP, 112 West 34th St, 17th & 18th Floors, New York, NY 10120.”
Habba and Morian both signed the document. During an interview on Newsmax TV with Rob Schmitt last week, attorney Habba claimed that there is a deliberate collaboration between Democratic officials in a state with a super-majority and the Biden administration to obstruct the political opponent of the current president through legal means.
Habba has also accused U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland of being the “puppeteer” behind President Biden’s Justice Department.
She asserts that there is collaboration between the Department and Democratic Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office to reopen a case against Trump that was closed five years ago by the federal Southern District of New York.
“[Garland’s] the puppeteer, effectively, and so is the current president, or resident, as I call him, in the White House. Truly, there is obviously a coordinated effort. There’s no question about that,” Habba told Schmitt.
“Back in the day, this case was looked at, it was investigated, charges were not brought. Indictments were not made because they knew the case was not real,” Habba said.
“Then [Trump] ran for office. They bring the charges. If you look at that timeline alone, I wanna know how they’re gonna wipe this story away because it speaks volumes. You didn’t bring the charges. You said there was no story.”
“And then he runs for office, and they bring an indictment on this case,” Habba added. “And that case that’s going forward in April is another disgrace and shows the demise of the state of New York, which I used to love.”
Bragg has appointed Matthew Colangelo, a former senior official in Biden’s Department of Justice, as an assistant district attorney.
“It’s disgusting. Just look at the White House log,” Habba said. “If anybody wants to tell me something’s not coordinated, explain to me why a state official, who is supposed to be elected by their state and work for their state constituents, is now working with the White House administration. It makes no sense,” she added.
In the latest development, Judge Juan Merchan rejected Trump’s plea to delay the commencement of his criminal trial in Manhattan.
Trump faces 34 charges filed by Bragg, accusing him of falsifying business records to conceal payments made as hush money to cover up his extramarital affairs.
Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, Trump has sought to postpone the criminal proceedings against him, despite facing indictments in four separate jurisdictions.
