What do John Adams and Covington & Burling have in common? Both exemplify the legal system’s most fundamental principle: the right to a defense, no matter the client. In week six of the Trump Deconstruction, we witnessed yet another attack on the rule of law—this time, a direct White House assault on one of the nation’s most respected law firms simply for representing Special Counsel Jack Smith. Meanwhile, on the world stage, President Zelensky — a symbol of courage in defending democracy and the international rule of law — was met with boorish taunts and political gamesmanship in the Oval.
In this video, I break down why these actions matter. From the vilification of legal representation to the government’s shifting stance on Ukraine, the line between heroes and villains has never been clearer.
If you want to watch the video of my take, watch the video above or watch it on YouTube, here. For those who prefer to read, a transcript is below.
Have a great weekend.
–Andrew
TRANSCRIPT
Hi folks. It’s Friday late afternoon here in New York City, and I wanted to talk to you. I originally planned to discuss something related to the rule of law, but something else happened today that I need to address.
As you’re all aware, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine came from his war-torn country, which was invaded three years ago by Russia. To be clear, any sane person knows this was an unprovoked attack—they didn’t invade themselves, as President Trump has claimed. There was a meeting at the White House that was such a setup, so grossly immature, and a horrendous example of what America has become on the international stage—a laughingstock, except if you’re Russia.
It is hard to imagine President Trump doing anything that would make it clearer that he is acting in Vladimir Putin’s interests. This is remarkable, given that Putin is the aggressor in a war. Across America and the world, there are so few big, public examples of heroes. Of course, we have everyday heroes in many forms who often go unrecognized, but on the national and international stage, they are rare.
To me, President Zelenskyy is one of them—someone who rose to the occasion, put his life on the line for his country, and has had to overcome enormous odds, both from within Ukraine and from Russia, all while mobilizing international support. He is certainly a hero of mine. On the national stage, I’ve spoken before about Dr. Fauci in a similar way and what we owe him as a country—not just for his role in the most recent pandemic but for his entire career.
The idea that President Zelenskyy would show up as the leader of a foreign country that has been attacked—the largest land war in Europe since World War II—and that any civilized country wouldn’t unequivocally condemn this is outrageous. The fact that we would treat him this way, siding with Russia and other authoritarian states at the United Nations instead of supporting Ukraine, is a complete disgrace.
As I said just yesterday, this isn’t something where you need to guess at what’s happening or wonder, Is this really as bad as they say? This isn’t a case of people being Chicken Littles and saying the sky is falling when it’s not. What you saw today in the Oval Office is a textbook example. No matter what President Zelenskyy did, there were immediate repercussions, because this was a setup designed to make him look bad.
Then you had our president and vice president acting in the most immature, belittling way, as if even saying “thank you” was too much. This is someone we should be thanking for setting an example for all of us in the fight for democracy, yet instead, we’re treating him as if he’s another extortion victim. Remember, this is the same President Zelenskyy whom Donald Trump previously tried to extort by withholding military aid to force him into opening a bogus criminal investigation into the Bidens.
That’s the backdrop. Now, Trump is treating Ukraine as if it’s entirely transactional—asking how much money he can get from them without even promising security or anything else in return. He’s doubling down, as if we’re going to have mercenary armies again.
This is incredibly shortsighted because the reason America is a beacon to the world, not just morally but financially, is because of the rule of law. If you’re a business looking to operate somewhere, you want to be in a country with a functioning legal system, where you don’t have to constantly bribe officials or be extorted. That’s why companies prefer to do business in rule-of-law countries. And that is clearly not what Donald Trump wants.
So, anyway, this wasn’t what I originally planned to discuss, but it connects to something else that happened this week—something of real significance in my community that I think has gotten less attention.
My legal community, which I believe is emblematic of the erosion of the rule of law that Donald Trump is trying to promote, was directly targeted this week. One of the things he did was vilify a well-known and respected law firm, Covington & Burling. And what was their supposed sin that led Trump to declare they would no longer receive government contracts? Why did he say former government officials associated with them would lose their security clearance?
What did Covington & Burling do that was so egregious? Did they engage in criminal conduct? Were they acting unethically or immorally? No. Their “offense” was representing Jack Smith. They are serving as defense lawyers for someone—a fundamental role in our legal system, something you would think Donald Trump would understand very well, given that he has been represented by numerous defense attorneys over the past four years.
Trump has had legal representation in cases where he was convicted by a jury, in civil cases where he has lost repeatedly. He should understand that in our system, it is crucial for both sides to have skilled counsel. The right to legal representation is a constitutional guarantee, and he has personally benefited from that as a defendant.
The idea that he would denigrate a firm for performing an honorable duty—acting as defense counsel—is appalling. I firmly believe that everyone is entitled to a defense and should have the best legal counsel available. One of the things I admired in the Manhattan District Attorney’s criminal case, regardless of the outcome, was that it showcased our legal system at its best. There was an excellent judge, strong prosecutors, and a highly competent defense team that did an effective job for Trump. That is how the system is supposed to work. I do not hold it against any defense attorney for representing a client—that is their job.
I have prosecuted organized crime figures, murderers, fraudsters, extortionists, and corporate criminals, from Enron executives to Volkswagen’s environmental fraud case. No matter the accusations, every defendant is entitled to legal representation, and they should have skilled defense counsel.
Most people know me as a prosecutor, but I was also a defense lawyer for ten years. I’ve seen that role up close, both as an advocate and as someone who has worked alongside reputable defense attorneys. The idea that the President of the United States would target Covington & Burling simply for representing someone he dislikes is despicable. It completely misunderstands our legal system, and Trump knows that well.
The real motivation here is not principle—it is fear and power. Trump wants law firms and lawyers to think twice before taking certain cases, just as he wants members of Congress, Justice Department officials, and even President Zelenskyy to hesitate before crossing him. Even when what they are doing is entirely lawful, he wants them to fear retaliation. This is authoritarian behavior, plain and simple.
If you want to see how far we have strayed from our foundational principles, look back at John Adams. Before he became President, Adams took on an extremely unpopular case: defending eight British soldiers accused of murder in Boston. He did so because he believed in the rule of law and the right to a fair trial. His legal defense resulted in most of the soldiers being acquitted because the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and he demonstrated that they acted in self-defense. Two defendants were convicted of misdemeanors, but the outcome reflected due process at work.
That is what our system is supposed to be. That is what the rule of law is about—ensuring that both sides have competent representation, regardless of how unpopular or controversial the case may be.
But it’s not about winning or losing—that’s irrelevant. What matters is that someone with John Adams’ reputation, who went on to become President of the United States, understood the role lawyers must play in upholding the legal system.
I am hopeful that, at some point, the legal profession will stand up and support Covington & Burling. That they will unite in an I’m Spartacus moment and recognize that they must take a stand. Ultimately, this is about the people of the United States. Ideally, Republican senators would also recognize that this has gone too far and put an end to it.
To connect this back to Ukraine, at least there we have seen some Republicans push back. But look at what it took—it required the President of the United States siding with Russia, falsely claiming that Ukraine was the aggressor, and even calling President Zelenskyy a dictator. If it takes statements that extreme for some members of Congress to object, that sets a dangerously high bar. But at least it’s something.
What happened to President Zelenskyy today, and the attack on Covington & Burling for simply fulfilling their professional duty, are both striking examples of America’s decline.
With that, have a good weekend. Stay engaged with the news as much as you can. I know there’s a tendency to avoid confronting what’s happening, but as I’ve said before, there are actions people can take. You can voice your views to your local representatives and members of Congress—they do pay attention. Whether through calls, town halls, or written messages, you can ensure your perspective is heard.
You can also support groups that are making a difference—whether it’s providing aid to Ukraine, filing lawsuits that you believe are important, or advocating for First Amendment rights. These organizations are easy to find online. You can volunteer, donate, or contribute in ways both big and small. Taking action provides an outlet for the energy that will be necessary to ensure we have a country we are proud of.
So with that, have a great weekend. I’ll continue speaking with you as things develop. Take care.
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