Former Jackson Attorney Comments on Firing
April 26 -- In an exclusive interview with ABCNEWS, Michael Jackson's newly fired attorney said the "King of Pop" was unwise to drop his high-profile legal team, but believes his former client has a chance for acquittal in his child molestation case.
Jackson fired Benjamin Brafman, along with Mark Geragos, over the weekend, just days before his scheduled arraignment in a Santa Barbara Court on grand jury charges.
Brafman, who won an acquittal for Sean "P. Diddy" Combs on bribery and weapons charges in 2001, criticized Jackson's decision, saying he and Geragos — who is representing Scott Peterson in the slayings of his wife Laci and their unborn son — have proven records.
In their place, Jackson's hired Thomas Mesereau Jr., who represented actor Robert Blake in his murder case until the two parted over irreconcilable differences.
In his exclusive interview with Good Morning America, Brafman — who was recently hired as an ABCNEWS legal consultant — declined to give specifics about the firing, but said the parting had been coming for some time.
"It was a combination of factors, and I don't think it is appropriate to discuss the actual dialogue that brought about the decision," he said. "It was a decision that sort of has been happening over time, and I think at the end of the day it is probably better that it is resolved this way."
Brafman said he wishes Jackson well and that the pop star has a real chance to win an acquittal.
"I don't wish him any harm," Brafman said. "To the contrary, I hope he wins this case. I think he has every chance to win this case. I think the [legal] team has to understand that it is not business as usual. They have to be focused."
Jackson, 45, faces seven counts of performing a lewd act upon a child for alleged inappropriate conduct with a now-14-year-old cancer survivor who spent time at his Neverland ranch.
Last week, a grand jury hearing evidence in the legendary performer's child molestation case decided to indict him, but the specific charges have not been revealed publicly.
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