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Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, the law firm that is leading the Trump campaign’s efforts to question the results of the Pennsylvania presidential election, abruptly withdrew from a federal lawsuit it filed days earlier on behalf of President Trump.
“The plaintiffs and Porter Wright have reached a mutual agreement that the plaintiffs will receive better service if Porter Wright retires,” the law firm said in a federal court document.
The company’s withdrawal followed an article published Monday in The New York Times that described internal tensions within the company over its work for the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania. Some employees said they were concerned that the company was being used to undermine the integrity of the electoral process. A lawyer for Porter Wright resigned in protest over the summer.
Columbus, Ohio-based Porter Wright has received at least $ 727,000 in campaign fees from Trump and the Republican National Committee, according to federal election disclosures.
The law firm filed a lawsuit in the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on Monday on behalf of the Trump campaign. The lawsuit, which is pending, alleges there were “irregularities” in the presidential voting statewide, which President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. won by more than 50,000 votes.
The Democratic National Committee has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
Previously, Porter Wright had filed a series of other actions in Pennsylvania courts challenging aspects of the state’s voting process. It is unclear whether the firm will continue to represent the Trump campaign in those cases. A representative for Porter Wright did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
On Wednesday, Porter Wright issued a statement noting his “long history of electoral law work during which we have represented Democratic, Republican and independent campaigns and issues.”
“Sometimes this requires us to take on controversial cases,” the statement said. “We expect criticism in such cases and affirm the right of all people to express concern and disagreement.”
Alan Feuer contributed reporting.
