Gates attorneys cite ‘irreconcilable differences’ in motion to leave case

Attorneys representing a co-defendant of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort cited “irreconcilable differences” as their reason for seeking to withdraw from the case, according to a court document made public on Wednesday.

The three lawyers representing Richard Gates, a former aide to the Trump campaign who was charged with tax fraud and money laundering as part of the ongoing Russia probe, filed the motion to quit the case last week.

Shanlon Wu, Walter Mack and Annemarie McAvoy said in the motion that “irreconcilable differences” with Gates made their continued representation of him “impossible.” 

In the initial motion to withdraw reported on last week, the three attorneys said they would explain their reason for leaving in documents that would be kept under seal.

Gates is still represented by top Washington defense attorney Tom Green, who it was reported had been seen leaving the offices of special counsel Robert Mueller last month. Green joined Gates’s team in January.

Gates pleaded not guilty in October to eight charges relating to Mueller’s probe, but CNN reported in January that Green’s arrival on the case, and his reported meeting with the special counsel, may signal that Gates is moving to cooperate with the Department of Justice as part of the investigation.

Gates is expecting more charges stemming from the Mueller probe in upcoming months, according to Mack in a court filing last month.

Mueller’s team has charged four figures tied to President Trump’s campaign so far, including Gates, Manafort, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and the campaign’s former foreign policy adviser, George Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos and Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents last year. Gates was released from house arrest earlier this month.