US applies to disqualify Huawei lawyer

US prosecutors have filed a motion to disqualify the lead defence lawyer for Huawei Technologies from the case against the Chinese company for alleged bank fraud and sanctions violations, according to a filing in US District Court in Brooklyn, New York.

The lawyer, James Cole, is a former deputy attorney general of the United States.

The government did not make public why it is seeking to remove Cole from the case.

In a letter to the court on Thursday, prosecutors said they had filed a sealed, classified motion to disqualify Cole and expected to file a public version by May 10.

Cole did not immediately return a call for comment.