Close associates and advisers to Donald Trump tell Axios' Jonathan Swan they're concerned by Trump's decision to use a relatively inexperienced New Jersey attorney, Alina Habba, in his high-stakes legal fight against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Why it matters: A former president typically has access to the country's most prestigious experts, including lawyers. Trump has turned to the onetime general counsel for a parking garage company, who works from a small law office near his Bedminster, N.J., country club. What they're saying: "He has some lawyers that are very sophisticated with years of experience litigating, and he has now fallen prey to inexperienced lawyers who are just telling him what he wants to hear," said one source close to the former president. Like others, the source requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. - "It's disconcerting to everyone around him who actually care about him," the source said.
- A second source, who's close to the Trump legal team, told Axios: "There are real concerns about having a state court tort lawyer come in to represent Donald Trump, not understanding the nuances and issues that surround a former president."
Habba responded in a statement to Axios: "It is a sad day when the press finds the need to belittle someone who has elected not to work at a 'white shoe' firm but has rather opted to build and manage her own law firm." - "If you believe former President Donald Trump has fallen prey and is being victimized by someone such as myself, then you do not understand Donald Trump, the Trump Organization or his family very well."
- Eric Trump, a son of the former president and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, also defended Habba.
- In a statement to Axios, he described her as "an incredibly competent attorney" who has "our utmost trust and confidence and has the fortitude to take on some of the most politically corrupt and unethical institutions in this country."
The details: Habba, 37, began representing Trump last year. She frequents Bedminster, which is how she and the former president got to know each other, according to a source familiar with the club's membership. - Over the past six months, Habba has represented Trump in a lawsuit against his niece Mary Trump and The New York Times.
- She's also represented him against defamation claims from two women who allege Trump sexually assaulted them.
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