A key member of Donald Trump's legal defense team has reportedly dropped one of the former president's associates, Boris Epshteyn, as a client as it became clear that the two were considered adversarial to each other due to a recent Arizona criminal indictment.
Hugo Lowell, political investigations reporter for The Guardian, reported after Epshteyn was indicted in Arizona that "Trump lawyer Todd Blanche may soon have to choose whether loyalty is [with] Trump or Boris Epshteyn — clients who are now likely adversarial to each other."
Lowell noted that, while "Trump is charged [with] 2020 election subversion in DC and Georgia," Epshteyn has been "charged [with] 2020 election subversion in Arizona."
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The reporter further noted that Blanche "was originally Epshteyn’s lawyer and represented him before the Special Counsel."
"Epshteyn then intro’d him to Trump, and Blanche became his lawyer, too," he said Wednesday. "Now Blanche almost certainly is legally conflicted, though Trump and Epshteyn could waive the conflict."
In an updated post, Lowell stated that "Trump lawyer Todd Blanche is no longer representing Boris Epshteyn, per person familiar."
"Unclear when the representation ended," he said. "Blanche told Epshteyn tonight that he needs to find an Arizona lawyer ASAP."
Former federal prosecutor Harry Litman called the development "fallout from Arizona case."
"Epshteyn indicted for first time and Blanche no longer represents him," he said.
MSNBC host and legal analyst Katie Phang also chimed in on Blanche leaving Epshteyn, saying, "So it looks like Todd Blanche went with the buttered side."