Trump hires 'best criminal defense lawyer' in last-minute shake-up

Donald Trump changed lawyers as he prepared to turn himself in to authorities in Georgia Photo: AP/Mary Altaffer electoral subversion in Georgia before he turned himself in to authorities and was photographed Thursday night.

The former president appointed Steven Sadow, an Atlanta lawyer who specializes in defending high-profile clients, to represent him at his trial, where he is indicted in organizing a «criminal enterprise» to overturn the state's 2020 election results.

Mr. Sadow previously represented rapper Rick Ross in a case where he was accused of «gun-beating» his gardener and singer Asher, who was accused of knowingly infecting a woman with herpes.

A Trump campaign source told CNN that Sadow was «the best criminal defense attorney» in the state. He faces prosecutors led by Fanny Willis, District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia.

Trump turned himself in to authorities at the Fulton County Jail Thursday at 7:30 pm local time. He was released on $200,000 (£156,832) bail after bail was negotiated by his legal team prior to his booking.

Rudy Giuliani, his former lawyer, turned himself in earlier this week and was also photographed.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Giuliani are among 19 defendants charged with various offenses, including racketeering . .

The criminal charge is one of four against Mr. Trump, including the «secret money» case in New York, charges of mishandling confidential documents in Florida, and defrauding the American people in Washington, D.C. Colombia.

Steven Sadow, Donald Trump's new attorney

Prosecutors are pushing for a March trial date, but Trump's team has asked for a delay until 2026, after the next presidential election.

Mr. Sadow will replace Drew Findling as chief counsel in the Trump case in Georgia, according to The New York Times.

In a statement, he said: “ I was hired to represent President Trump in the Fulton County, Georgia case.

“The President should never have been charged. He is innocent of all the charges against him.

“We hope that the case will be dismissed or, if necessary, an impartial and unbiased jury finds the President not guilty.

«Harassment designed to advance or satisfy the ambitions and careers of political opponents of the President has no place in our justice system.»

Mr Trump denies the allegations against him and insists that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” from him in Georgia.