(CNN Spanish) — The name of Todd Blanche has gained popularity in recent hours, after it was revealed that he is the new lawyer hired by former President Donald Trump to act as the main litigator against the charges filed by the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
Blanche previously represented Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and Igor Fruman, a former associate of Rudy Giuliani who was also a key figure in the first impeachment trial of the former Republican president, who is already in New York for his appearance before the court in the case linked to the alleged hush payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
He was most recently a partner at the law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
Trump attorneys Joe Tacopina and Susan Necheles will remain on Trump’s legal team.
Blanche’s hiring was seen by some within Trump’s orbit as sidelining Tacopina, who up to this point has been one of the most outspoken lawyers working on Trump’s defense. However, a senior Trump adviser rejected that characterization, saying the addition of Blanche was intended to add more legal firepower to Trump’s defense.
Asked by CNN’s Paula Reid if he’s still on the case and if he’ll be in court this Tuesday, Tacopina replied: “Yes, of course! And I’ll be the lead trial attorney when the bell rings.”
Possible conflict of interest for Todd Blanche?
Asked on Friday by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins if Tacopina was the right lawyer in New York to put Trump on trial, another lawyer representing the former president, Tim Parlatore, pointed to a potential conflict of interest.
“I know that Joe has some potential conflict issues, given his prior contacts with Stormy Daniels. So who is the right attorney to sue him is something for the client to decide. Ultimately, the decision of who to stand with , before a jury, is a decision that only the client can make,” Parlatore said.
Trump, to court
This Tuesday afternoon, Trump will be booked by investigators at his appearance in Manhattan, which includes taking his fingerprints. Normally, he would have a mugshot taken of him. But sources familiar with the preparations were not sure a mugshot would be made, because Trump’s appearance is widely known and authorities were concerned that the photo would be improperly leaked, which would be in violation of state law.
Normally, when a defendant is arrested, he is placed in a cell near the courtroom before his appearance. But that will not happen with Trump. Once the former president has finished processing, he will be led through a set of corridors and elevators to the floor where the courtroom is located. He will then go out to a public corridor to enter the room.
It is not expected that Trump be handcuffed, as you will be surrounded by armed federal agents for your protection.
“Obviously, this is different. It’s never happened before. I’ve never had the Secret Service involved in an appearance at 100 Center Street before,” Trump attorney Joe Tacopina said on “State of the Union.” on CNN on Sunday. “Everything about Tuesday is still very much up in the air, apart from the fact that we will say very loudly and proudly that we are not guilty.”
In the afternoon, Trump is expected to be ushered into the courtroom, where the indictment will be unsealed and he will formally face the charges. Following his arraignment, Trump will almost certainly be out on bail. It is possible, though perhaps unlikely, that travel conditions will be placed on you.
Normally, a released defendant would walk out the front door, but the Secret Service will want to limit the time and space that Trump is in public. So, once he finishes the hearing, Trump is expected to walk back down the public hallway and head to the back halls of the district attorney’s office, where he will await his entourage.
CNN’s Paula Reid contributed to this article.
