President-elect Donald Trump has appointed his defense lawyer, Will Scharf, to a White House position, marking the fourth personal attorney to join the incoming administration. Scharf, who played a key role in defending Trump in the federal criminal case related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, will serve as assistant to the president and White House staff secretary. Trump praised Scharf as a highly skilled attorney who will be an essential part of his team.
Scharf, from Missouri, was part of the defense team that fought against the federal prosecution by Special Counsel Jack Smith for election theft and obstructing Congress in 2020. He argued that Trump should be shielded from prosecution due to presidential immunity during the incidents in question. The Supreme Court agreed in July that official acts by a president are protected by immunity, but not those taken as a candidate.
In addition to Scharf, Trump has appointed Todd Blanche, another personal attorney, as deputy attorney general at the Justice Department. Blanche represented Trump in the New York hush money trial and other cases. Trump has also chosen Emil Bove and Dean Sauer, who were part of his defense team, for positions in the administration. Furthermore, Trump has nominated Doug Collins, a former congressman who supported him during the Mueller investigation, as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. These appointments highlight the close relationship between Trump and his legal team as they transition into governing roles.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com