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Donald Trump’s attorney Joe Tacopina told Fox News that Monday was the “eve of destruction.”
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Trump arrived at Trump Tower on Monday and will be arraigned on Tuesday.
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Tacopina’s comments echo Trump’s “death and destruction” Truth Social post from March.
Joe Tacopina, a lawyer for former President Donald Trump, compared the night before Trump’s arraignment to the “eve of destruction.”
In an interview Monday on Fox News, Tacopina — who represents Trump in New York — said he couldn’t believe the ex-president would face charges on Tuesday.
“What’s extraordinary is tomorrow is actually happening, that’s what’s extraordinary. I just can’t believe it, I think we’re on the verge of destruction. It’s just surreal to me,” Tacopina said.
Tacopina’s words on Fox News were similar to the ominous sentiment expressed in Trump’s past Truth Social posts. On March 23, Trump predicted there would be “death and destruction” if he is indicted.
“What kind of person could another person, in this case a former president of the United States, who received more votes than any sitting president in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, charge for a crime, when it is known to all that NO crime has been committed, and it is also known that possible death and destruction in such a false accusation could be catastrophic for our country?” Trump wrote to Truth Social on March 23.
Trump also called on his followers on March 18 to protest” and “take our nation back,” echoing his own rhetoric before the January 6 riot at the Capitol.
Trump was charged on March 30 in connection with a hush money payment made to adult film actress, Stormy Daniels, on the eve of the election. Trump is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday.
Tacopina’s comments come just as Trump has appointed a new lead attorney, former federal prosecutor Todd Blanche, per Politico.
Blanche previously represented Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Manafort was indicted in 2019 on tax fraud and conspiracy charges, according to Reuters. Blanche managed to get Manafort’s charges dismissed.
Speaking to Fox News, Tacopina said there is “no lead” counsel on the case.
“We are one team, one family with one mission,” Tacopina said of Blanche.
Tacopina did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment, which was sent outside of regular business hours.
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