Trump lawyer Todd Blanche draws judge's ire as historic trial gets underway

FILE PHOTO: Attorney Todd Blanche leaves after representing former U.S. President Donald Trump at a hearing in the U.S. Justice Department's federal criminal case against Trump, at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., August 28, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Donald Trump's attorney Todd Blanche took a risk giving up a plush career at a New York law firm to become the first attorney in history to defend a former U.S. president at a criminal trial, and felt the heat almost immediately when a judge questioned his credibility.

Blanche, a former federal prosecutor, is lead lawyer defending Trump in his trial on charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star. He is also handling several other criminal cases for Trump, who is known for cycling through lawyers.