Kise joins Evan Corcoran and Jim Trusty in advising Trump on the Florida probe, one of several the former president is facing in multiple places. His hiring, which was confirmed by three people familiar with Trump’s legal team, was first reported by NBC News.
Trump will have to pay for Kise’s services himself. A person familiar with the matter confirmed that the Republican National Committee is not paying Trump’s legal fees related to the FBI investigation and the seizure of documents at Mar-a-Lago. It is a kind of departure from the past. The RNC, for example, paid Trump’s legal bills involving New York Attorney General Tisha James’ investigation into the former president’s private dealings. The committee would stop paying Trump’s legal fees if he formally declares his candidacy for president in 2024 — a step he has hinted at but has yet to take.
Kise has extensive experience with major trials and appeals and has successfully litigated four cases in the Supreme Court. Kise, who has been described as a “permanent fixture in Florida Republican politics,” is from the firm Foley and Lardner. As of Tuesday morning, Kise was no longer on the firm’s website.
In addition to previously serving as Florida’s chief litigator, Kise was counsel to former Florida Governor Charlie Crist and general counsel to the gubernatorial transition teams of former Florida Governor Rick Scott and current Governor Ron DeSantis.
Brian Ballard, a top lobbyist and fundraiser for Trump and DeSantis, said Kise is “one of the best lawyers I’ve ever worked with — I think President Trump got a really good lawyer and a really good adviser and fighter.”
Kise is expected to appear in court Thursday to represent Trump to discuss the former president’s request for a special master to review documents found by the FBI during the Mar-a-Lago search.
Kyle Cheney contributed to this report.
