On Thursday, September 4, 2025, the York Daily Record reported that suspended York County Judge Steven Stambaugh is now being represented by Timothy Parlatore, a lawyer known for his previous work on President Donald Trump’s legal team. Stambaugh faces serious federal charges, including fraud and witness tampering, related to a scheme involving the unemployment compensation program expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a court filing dated August 20, Stambaugh announced the change in legal representation, replacing his former attorney, Maryam Hadden, who is also a partner at Parlatore’s New York law firm. Two additional co-counsels, Jerry Russo and Heidi Freese, are also part of Stambaugh’s defense team, both of whom are affiliated with the Pittsburgh-based law firm Tucker Arensberg. Freese brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as a juvenile delinquency master and has represented over 400 court-appointed clients in York County throughout her career.

As Stambaugh navigates these legal challenges, he and prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s office are reportedly collaborating on a potential agreement that could allow him to enter a diversionary program. This arrangement would enable Stambaugh to resolve the charges without going to trial.

Originally, the trial was scheduled to commence on August 26, but U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion postponed it to November, providing both parties time to finalize the details of the proposed deal. In court filings, both Stambaugh’s legal team and prosecutors indicated they have reached a preliminary agreement on the diversionary program, akin to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) used in state courts.

In his ruling on August 14, Judge Mannion acknowledged the importance of the postponement, stating that proceeding with the trial at that time could lead to a miscarriage of justice. Although he did not explicitly mention the possibility of a diversionary program, the judge recognized the necessity of allowing time for negotiations between the defense and prosecution.

Parlatore has a notable background, having served on Trump’s legal team during a grand jury investigation related to the handling of classified documents found at the former president’s Florida estate. Parlatore left the team in 2023 amid disputes with another attorney representing Trump. Additionally, he has represented several prominent figures tied to Trump, including Republican Pennsylvania state Senator Doug Mastriano during the House committee’s investigation into the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

Apart from his work with Trump, Parlatore has represented Navy officer Eddie Gallagher, who faced charges of murdering a suspected Islamic State fighter in 2017. Although Gallagher was acquitted of murder, he was convicted for posing with the deceased body and received a demotion, which was later reversed by a presidential pardon.

Recently, Parlatore has also been involved in the nomination hearings of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, where he served as Hegseth’s personal lawyer. During these hearings, Parlatore threatened legal action against an individual who accused Hegseth of assault. Hegseth’s nomination was confirmed by a narrow Senate vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the deciding vote.

Stambaugh, who was elected to the York County bench in 2021, was indicted in October of the previous year on 31 counts linked to fraudulent activities related to the unemployment compensation program. These charges also include accusations of pressuring witnesses to provide false testimonies and threatening retaliation against an employee for reporting his actions to federal authorities.

Following his indictment, Stambaugh was suspended from his judicial position, and a bill for his impeachment has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives but remains under consideration.

 

 

Source: York Daily Record