The Washington Examiner has reported that a senior member of former President Donald Trump's legal team recently took a step back.  

According to the paper, Evan Corcoran recused himself from working on matters related to the Department of Justice investigation regarding classified documents at Trump's Florida home.

Attorney ordered to testify before grand jury

The Examiner pointed to a Washington Post story which reported that Corcoran had been ordered to answer questions before a grand jury.

It also noted that the rules of legal ethics preclude attorneys from representing clients in cases where they could become key witnesses.

ABC News reported in March that a three-judge panel on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block an order from the D.C. District Court that Corcoran testify  about a subpoena issued to Trump's legal team last year.

The Examiner added that it is not clear whether or not Corcoran's recusal is permanent. The paper also stressed that he will continue to be involved in Trump's other legal matters.

Trump legal team "is intact"

"The legal team handling all matters involving the special counsel — myself, James Trusty, John Rowley, Lindsey Halligan, and Evan Corcoran is intact and we continue to work closely with Evan as we do with the entire team to protect our client,” the Post quoted Trump lawyer Tim Parlatore as saying in a statement.

Those legal matters included investigations by special counsel Jack Smith, who was tasked this past November by Attorney General Merrick Garland with leading two inquiries.

According to Fox News, one inquiry focuses on the handling of classified documents, while the other relates to Trump's role in the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill.

"I intend to conduct the assigned investigations and any prosecutions that may result from them independently and in the best traditions of the Department of Justice," Fox News quoted Smith as saying following his appointment.

Trump says investigations are politically motivated

"The pace of the investigations will not pause or flag under my watch," he continued, adding, "I will exercise independent judgment and will move the investigations forward expeditiously and thoroughly to whatever outcome the facts and the law dictate."

For his part, Trump reacted to Smith's appointment by asserting his innocence and slamming his investigations as politically motivated.

"I have been going through this for six years — for six years I have been going through this, and I am not going to go through it anymore," Trump told Fox News in an interview.

He then expressed hope that Republicans "have the courage to fight this" while stressing that he "did nothing wrong."