Update: Bob Lee murder suspect Nima Momeni hires high-profile attorney after previous lawyer withdraws
SAN FRANCISCO -- Nima Momeni, the man accused of fatally stabbing tech executive Bob Lee, is hiring a high-profile Florida-based lawyer to defend him after his previous attorney stepped down Tuesday, citing an undisclosed conflict of interest.
"It's both with great disappointment and relief that I'm here," said Paula Canny, Momeni's now-former attorney, in a courthouse interview. "It's a super messed up situation."
While Canny declined to speak to the nature of the conflict of interest, she had previously expressed displeasure at Momeni pushing to fast-track the case, which would have given Canny and her legal team less time to form their defense.
"Sh-- happens when representing people. It's just like that," Canny said. "Energetically, I have my way. Clients have their way."
Momeni had waived his right to have a preliminary hearing within 10 court days. He spoke for himself in court Tuesday and will presumably have a new attorney at his next appearance, which was set for June 13.
Canny added that she is not surprised she felt the need to withdraw.
"Pretty much every major case that has one of these high-profile things, the first lawyer always gets dumped," Canny said. "Every single one I've thought about -- and there's a bunch of different reasons for that. This isn't the first time that this sort of happens."
The person filling Canny's shoes is Florida-based criminal defense attorney Saam Zanganeh.
According to his social media he has represented clients throughout the U.S. as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He also says he is '100% Persian,' something legal experts say is appealing to Momeni and his family.
Photos and videos on Zanganeh's Instagram account highlight famous clients he has defended including former basketball star Lamar Odom.
His social media accounts offer legal advice on matters that may aid a person in a criminal matter.
"See how easy it is to not say a [expletive] thing. It's super easy, even for a guy who loves to talk like me. It's important to know when to keep your mouth shut, especially to an officer," Zanganeh said in one video posted to Instagram.
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Zanganeh will be taking over a case with a mountain of evidence to dig through including recent court filings that show still images from surveillance at the Millennium Tower, where Momeni's sister lives, the night of the stabbing.
The pictures show Lee leaving the building and meeting a man believed to be Momeni.
Zanganeh's social media profile paints a picture of a lawyer who does not shy away from a fight, and has had tough words for prosecutors.
"How do prosecutors sleep at night when they put away innocent people? Let me tell you that [expletive] happens all the time," he said in another video posted on his Instagram account.
CBS News Bay Area has also confirmed Zanganeh has tapped another Florida-based lawyer to join his team. Brad Cohen is described by Zanganeh as a 'celebrity guy.'
Cohen has represented a handful of high-profile clients which is also highlighted through his social media.
On Zanganeh's accounts, he has given shoutouts to Cohen applauding his work.
Cohen has ties to former President Donald Trump stemming from Cohen's time on The Apprentice. He appeared on the second season of the show in 2004. He also represented rappers Kodak Black and Lil Wayne, who received a last-minute pardon from Trump in 2021.
Legal experts say, because Momeni wants to fast-track the case, the prosecution has the upper hand.
Attorney Ivan Golde tells CBS News Bay Area that Canny had likely been focused on appellate issues, looking to poke holes in procedural hiccups or questionable evidence.
"It's not easy to prepare for something like this, in that short period of time and do a real good adequate defense. But the defendant doesn't want to sit in jail. He's freaking out. And he wants to hopefully be exonerated right away," Golde explained. "And so he's, he's panicking, it would seem, and requesting a speedy preliminary hearing."
Earlier in May, Momeni pleaded not guilty to the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Lee on a dark San Francisco street early on the morning of April 4th.
"The prosecution, in many regards, has a very strong case. That video footage is just so powerful. Whenever you have video footage or surveillance footage, that's a picture's worth 1,000 words that tenfold that you know, that's the thing. Everybody's on video," said Golde. "So I would say based on the video on the surveillance, the prosecution has the upper hand."
Prosecutors allege the stabbing could have been sparked by a romantic relationship between Lee and Momeni's sister. The knife used to stab Lee matches the brand of cutlery found in her apartment.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins points to the weapon as further evidence for the murder charge against Momeni.
"This is a person who was in his vehicle with a kitchen knife, that's not something most of us carry around," Jenkins told reporters on April 19. "Something that he intended to do."
Momeni is facing 26 years to life in prison if convicted, but Golde suggests a manslaughter charge could be a strategy deployed by the defense to reduce prison time.
Momeni is being held without bail after a judge ruled him to be a risk to the public.
