Sidney Powell, then an attorney for President Donald Trump, at a news conference Nov. 19 at the Republican National Committee about lawsuits over the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images file
When former president Donald Trump decided to sue three reporters The New York Times and his niece Mary L. Trump over a 2018 story on his tax returns, he didn't turn to a big-name media lawyer. Instead, he is being represented by the Bedminster, New Jersey-based Alina Habba, managing partner of Habba Madiao & Associates (via The Washington Post ).
Slide 1 of 40: Kellyanne Conway, Hope Hicks, Melania Trump: The women of the Trump era were practically household names during the 45th president's four years in office, a time marked by turmoil and turnover at the White House and in the administration more broadly.
Trump campaign legal adviser Jenna Ellis explained the lack of new evidence at the news conference to support their allegations by saying this was merely an "opening statement," and that more evidence would be forthcoming in court. Giuliani pushed back against a reporter who claimed he and his team were taking their time rolling out their cases.
How Habba is regarded by peers and clients within the legal profession is not apparent in the online lawyer review sites where she maintains a presence.
Habba's appointment to lead Trump's multimillion dollar lawsuit has baffled legal watchers, since the former has only used high-profile attorneys in the past.
Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for President Donald Trump, speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters, Thursday Nov. 19, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
While Giuliani did not present any direct evidence of a massive fraud scheme, Giuliani asserted that this is the "logical conclusion" reached as a result of incidents he said took place in several states.
Toensing and diGenova are panelists on Newsmax, a right-wing media outlet. They also represent Ukrainian businessman Dmitri Firtash, who was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with bribery and racketeering.
Giuliani began an investigation into now President-elect Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden in Ukraine. The Bidens have denied any wrongdoing.
This month, Powell launched a Legal Defense Fund for the American Republic to try to stop the U.S. election results from being certified in Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin.