Pittsburgh lawyers seek to withdraw from Trump federal suit

The Pittsburgh-based attorneys representing the Trump campaign in a federal lawsuit challenging the election results are seeking to withdraw from the case.

Ronald L. Hicks Jr. and Carolyn B. McGee, who work for Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, filed the motion Thursday.

The firm filed a lawsuit in the Middle District of Pennsylvania on Monday against Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, as well as the boards of election in Allegheny, Centre, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties.

The lawsuit alleges irregularities in voting across Pennsylvania, as well as equal protection violations. It claims there was an illegal two-tiered voting system that treated those who submitted mail-in ballots differently than those who voted in person.

Tim Murtaugh, Trump’s 2020 communications director, said the president’s team is undeterred and will move forward with new attorneys.

“Cancel culture has finally reached the courtroom. Leftist mobs descended upon some of the lawyers representing the president’s campaign, and they buckled,” he said. “If the target were anyone but Donald Trump, the media would be screaming about injustice and the fundamental right to legal representation.”

The anti-Trump activist group The Lincoln Project had launched a campaign on social media against the two lawyers, posting their names, photos and contact information on Twitter under the message, “Here are two attorneys attempting to help Trump overturn the will of the Pennsylvania people.” The tweet was removed by Twitter on Tuesday. Other groups and individuals engaged in similar campaigns.

In their motion to withdraw, Porter Wright noted Linda Kerns, an attorney based in Philadelphia, will remain as counsel for Trump.

Kerns is now the only other lawyer listed on the docket for the Trump campaign.

Neither attorneys from Porter Wright nor Kerns returned messages seeking comment.

According to the motion, the plaintiffs in the case have consented to the attorneys’ withdrawal.

“Plaintiffs are in the process of retaining and causing other counsel to enter an appearance herein,” the motion said. “Such counsel will be aware of the schedule set by the court in this matter and will be prepared to proceed according to that schedule.”

According to a story earlier this week by The New York Times, Porter Wright attorneys held internal meetings to voice concerns that their firm’s work on the election was helping Trump to undermine the integrity of American elections. The Times said at least one lawyer has quit in protest.

Filings made with the Federal Elections Commission show Donald J. Trump for President Inc. spent just over $727,000 on legal fees with Porter Wright from Feb. 12 through Sept. 23.

U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann, who sits in Williamsport where the lawsuit was filed, has scheduled oral argument in the case for Tuesday afternoon. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning.

Boockvar filed a motion requesting the case be transferred to the Harrisburg division of the court, because that is where her office is. In her motion, Boockvar’s attorneys noted the Department of State continues to work to complete post-election tasks.

“Ensuring that Secretary Boockvar and other key department staff do not have to leave Harrisburg for expedited proceedings is necessary to the time-sensitive ongoing critical operations of the department,” they wrote.

Brann denied the motion, writing in his order that if witness testimony becomes necessary, it can be done in person or virtually, to accommodate the witnesses.

Brann was nominated to the court by President Obama in May 2012.