Kansas City lawyer joins Trump defense team for civil trial over rape claim by writer
Former President Donald Trump has hired a Kansas City attorney onto his defense team ahead of a federal civil trial set to begin this week over a claim that Trump raped the writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.
W. Perry Brandt, a Kansas City lawyer with the firm Sandberg Phoenix, has joined five other attorneys who will represent Trump during the trial in New York City. Jury selection starts Tuesday, and Brandt formally entered his appearance in the case Friday.
Brandt, who has been a recent president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, has decades of trial experience in business and commercial litigation. More than 10 years ago, he represented UBS Financial Services in a lawsuit brought by a former employee, who alleged retaliation for reporting sexual harassment. He also represented Wells Fargo when the bank faced allegations of predatory lending.
But Trump may be unlike any other client Brandt has ever taken on. The former president is well known for having difficult relationships with his attorneys — most famously breaking with his former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen, who is now a star witness in the New York criminal case against him over alleged falsification of business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star.
In the upcoming civil trial, Carroll has alleged Trump raped her during a 1990s encounter in a New York store. Trump has denied the allegation.
Brandt has joined a defense team that includes New York attorney Joe Tacopina, who is also defending Trump in the criminal case. It’s unclear what role Trump wants Brandt to play on his legal team, or his reasons for bringing on Brandt so close to trial.
Mark Johnson, a Kansas City attorney who has known Brandt for years as both a neighbor and lawyer, said Brandt is an outspoken Republican. Johnson also noted Brandt’s involvement in former football coach David Beaty’s lawsuit against the University of Kansas; Brandt helped represent the university.
“His reputation is a highly seasoned, experienced, civil litigator,” Johnson said.
Brandt joined Sandberg Phoenix in February from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. At the time, Kelly Sullivan Angles, Sandberg Phoenix’s Kansas City managing shareholder, said in a statement Brandt’s “extensive legal career and his depth of knowledge, partnered with his ability to cultivate relationships, leverage talent, and mentor attorneys” would aid the firm’s local market growth.
Brandt didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment and voicemail on Monday. Trump’s campaign also didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Trump appears unlikely to attend the civil trial. The Associated Press reported last week that Tacopina asked the presiding judge to tell jurors that the Republican’s absence from the courtroom was intended to avoid logistical burdens that New York City and the court system would face if Trump were present.
The Star’s Luke Nozicka contributed reporting
Correction: A previous version of this misstated Brandt’s involvement in former KU Football Coach David Beaty’s lawsuit against the university. Brandt represented the university.
This story was originally published April 24, 2023 at 12:09 PM.
