Aug 23, 2023 - Politics & Policy

Trump's Georgia case lawyer is Atlanta hip-hop's legal eagle

A man wearing dark sunglasses and all black clothing poses with another man in a locker room

Drew Findling and Quavo. Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage

Who do former presidents and Gucci Mane call in a bind? Drew Findling, the #BillionDollarLawyer.

Driving the news: Former President Trump's lawyer in the Georgia case is a sharp-dressed powerhouse trial attorney who has built a business and brand defending (and sometimes mentoring) Atlanta rap royalty, including Offset, Cardi B and Waka Flocka Flame.

Details: Findling's work representing Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory of Black Mafia Family fame earned the attorney cachet among Atlanta's hip-hop power players, The New York Times reported in 2018.

Catch up quick: The past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers attended Oglethorpe University on a track scholarship and graduated from Emory Law.

Intrigue: Findling — who was raised by a single mom in a liberal household on Long Island and has advocated for criminal justice reform — in a 2018 tweet called Trump a "racist," The New Yorker reported in late July.

The bottom line: When Trump's team called, Findling told the magazine, he was reminded of John Adams defending British soldiers after the Boston Massacre.

  • "Once you start discriminating, the dominoes fall," he told the magazine.
  • "I may differ politically from many of my clients, but that doesn't change my commitment to defend against wrongful investigations," Findling said in a statement to the Associated Press when he was hired by Trump.

What they're saying: Don Samuel, another top Atlanta criminal defense attorney who's representing lawyer Ray Smith, a co-defendant in the case, told Axios he considers Findling "a top notch lawyer."

  • "And friend. A joy to be with, no unpleasant arrogance. And always willing to give advice to younger lawyers (though I am older than him)."
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