Donald Trump’s Employment Lawyers Request to Withdraw from Wrongful Termination and Pregnancy Discrimination Case

Donald Trump’s long time employment lawyers have suddenly requested to withdraw from a current wrongful termination case citing “irreparable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship.” The firm, LaRocca, Hornik, Greenberg, Rosen, Kittridge, Carlin and McPartland, has worked with the former President’s campaign and employment law matters. The attorneys’ have handled numerous matters for Trump and have billed an approximate of $3 million in the process.

On Friday, May 3^rd, 2024, the law firm requested to withdraw from a current pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by A. J. Delgado, who is representing herself. The former campaign surrogate claims to have been sidelined by the campaign in 2016 after she informed them of her pregnancy. The motion was filed just two days after the court had ordered them to produce all complaints of sexual harassment and gender or pregnancy discrimination dating back to 2016. The defendants had been evading these requests for “me too evidence” for a long period of time. Lead attorney, Jared Blumetti, requested to give an explanation for the motion privately with the judge.

Delgado’s lawsuit was filed in 2019, when she claimed sex and pregnancy discrimination against the campaign and its former advisers, Reince Priebus and Sean Spicer. She became pregnant  by Jason Miller, senior communications advisor and spokesperson, while working for the campaign. Quickly after the 2016 election, she informed her employers of her pregnancy and was immediately relieved of her duties. In addition to wrongful termination and pregnancy discrimination, she is also claiming gender discrimination as part of her lawsuit.

Former President Trump is currently in the process of a criminal trial regarding a money and sex scandal cover-up involving adult entertainer Stormy Daniels that occurred during the 2016 campaign. In addition to that, he is also facing criminal charges in Georgia and two different federal indictments. As of last week, Trump appealed judgements totaling more than $500 million in two civil verdicts—one involving sexual assault and defamation. In a separate matter, the Supreme Court is in the process of hearing arguments about whether he is immune from charges related to actions he took during his presidency.

Trump’s attorneys withdrawing from representing him is very common.  Most recently in January, his defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, stated that he would no longer represent him. Last year, four other attorney’s that had been representing him in several civil and criminal cases decided to withdraw as well.

A. J. Delgado filed an objection to the withdrawal on Monday, claiming that the request is a scheme to avoid compliance and argued that the motion to withdraw should not be allowed until the completion of the discovery process.

Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker stated that a conference would be scheduled with the law firm to discuss the matter, however, they would continue to represent the Trump’s campaign for the time being.

LaRocca, Hornik, Greenberg, Rosen, Kittridge, Carlin and McPartland is also representing the campaign in a sexual discrimination and abuse lawsuit filed by a former Hispanic outreach coordinator, Jessica Denson, yet they have not filed any requests or motions to withdraw. In 2023, they were able to negotiate a $450,000 settlement in a second lawsuit filed by Denson regarding the validity of nondisclosure agreements that were signed by employees during the 2016 race.

The law firm has a long history of working with the former president’s employment law matters. They defended Trump Model Management in a wage and hour case filed in 2014 and represented Trump’s campaign in 2016 and 2020. As of 2024, they have been paid an estimate of $990,000 by the Make America Great Again Inc. committee.