Huawei says it will ‘vigorously oppose’ US move to disqualify lead lawyer

Chinese tech giant Huawei said Friday that it will oppose an effort by the Trump administration to disqualify the lead attorney on its defense team in a case accusing the company of fraud and financial violations.

A filing in federal court reported by Reuters by the federal government requests that James Cole, Huawei’s lead defense attorney and the former No. 2 at the Justice Department from 2011-2015, be removed from the case. The reason stated by the federal government was under seal.

{mosads}In an emailed statement to the news service, Huawei said that it had seen “no evidence” why Cole should not be allowed to defend the company in the case, though Cole was at the Justice Department during a period of time when investigators may have been probing the company for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions on Iran.

“We have seen no facts from the government that would justify disqualifying him and denying Huawei its constitutional rights. Huawei will vigorously oppose the government’s motion,” Huawei said in a statement.

Along with charges of violating sanctions and obstructing justice, Huawei faces charges of bank and wire fraud. The company’s Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who is also the founder’s daughter, has also been charged and is currently battling extradition from Canada to the U.S.

Cole previously entered a not guilty plea for the company in March. Huawei has accused the Trump administration of unfair treatment, while the U.S. government maintains that Huawei’s devices represent a security risk and can be accessed by Chinese intelligence, a link that the company denies.