Rockland DA moves to disqualify attorney Michael Sussman in stabbing case

Goshen. Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced Tuesday this his office has moved the county court for an order disqualifying attorney Michael Sussman of Chester from representing Grafton Thomas, the man charged in the Monsey Hanukkah stabbing, on the grounds of that Sussman "is now a civilian witness in this case by conducting a 'search' and removing 'evidence' (that goes to his alleged defense) from a home that defendant may have occupied several years ago." Sussman, who has a practice in Goshen, said in a televised interview, "Lawyers gather evidence, people present lawyers' evidence all the time. In this case I'm assuming they're a little bit embarrassed they didn't gather the evidence in a timely manner." He said he would focus on criminal liability. Thomas is charged with a federal hate crime in the stabbing five people at a synagogue in Rockland County on Dec. 28. A 10-count indictment was issued earlier this month. Thomas entered not-guilty pleas to five charges each of attempting to kill people because of their religion and obstructing their free exercise of religion