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John W. Baker's avatar

"In a functioning democracy, lawyers serve the law first, not the preferences of those in power." When the latter happens, it is called corruption. When investigators, lawyers, and prosecutors serve the rich and powerful through bribes and malign influence, out of favor individuals are targeted AND the criminality of the rich and powerful is buried, covered-up, and disappeared

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John W. Baker's avatar

Essentially, what Paul Weiss did was pay a bribe, $40 million quid pro quo to a corrupt justice system that is open for business. Pay to Play.

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Robynne Limoges's avatar

But when the government is the blackmailer? What then?

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Robert marek's avatar

I couldn’t agree more Andrew. I hate to say this but by capitulating they have reduced themselves to nothing more than ambulance chasers. Sigh. 😔

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John W. Baker's avatar

"Trump is transactional" is a euphemism. He's a mob boss. He runs protection rackets. He just extorted a $40 million protection payment from Weiss, after threatening to bust up their nice shop

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Peggy Camp's avatar

Excellent article Andrew! My thought is what client would now want to hire a firm that wouldn’t or couldn’t defend themselves! Poor decision on their part for so many reasons!

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Susan's avatar

I'm guessing those clients from the regime who are trying to overthrow democracy.

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Michael Roseman's avatar

Unfortunately, cowardice by one inspires cowardice by others. We must rise above our fears and be brave, even if it is one day at a time.

“Capitulation serves as a clarion call to further such improper action by this administration, and a permission structure to other firms to follow this path of least resistance.”

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John Edward Heys's avatar

In total agreement . They have taken the cowardly road . Not the high road.

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John Edward Heys's avatar

Berlin, 3-25-25 The secret to your happiness? When you awaken , have a stress -free welcome to the world Routine? Don’t go online immediately. SILENCE - MUSIC- STRETCH -YOGA .Etc Etc I hesitate to get into a political debate on Substack. Of all the recent T…. nominees, the one I was most suspicious of was & remains Hesketh. This latest stew is just on low heat at this writing ( 3:34 p.m. ) in Berlin. Hopefully the heat will be turned up to burn & ENTIRELY! Discarded. P.S. Never thought I would see the day where Germany ( where I reside at present ) would OFFICIALLY announce just days ago a TRAVEL WARNING to citizens . In so many words. DON’T VISIT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! It made me cry .

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Wynn's avatar

Andrew is spot on. By capitulating and bending the knee to Trump they’ve soiled their reputation as a highly prestigious law firm and paid a bribe to n authoritarian.

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Barbara j Stackhouse's avatar

Good morning Andrew and thanks so much for saying what needs to be said! Nothing like their own self destruction of undoing all the good that they stood for. Apparently they are not who we thought they were and know everyone knows!

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Nancy Luque's avatar

As if to amplify Andrew’s piece, we have learned in the last 24 hours of a dangerous security breach by Trump’s entire cabinet from Jeffrey Goldberg, writing in the Atlantic. Knowing that those who ordinarily would investigate this breath-taking, potentially criminal example of utter incompetence, e.g., DOJ, Congress, Inspector Generals, etc., have been eliminated or captured by Trump, individuals (all of us) and agencies affected could turn to civil suits to investigate the extent of the conduct and its potential for harm. But as lawyers lose their nerve and/or their security clearances, we are stripped of even those weapons to expose the nature and extent of the harm being done to us all.

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Mark McLean's avatar

Please call for a boycott of this law firm. The firm has clearly made its choice in this unbelievable and unprecedented attempt, now successful, at extortion by the POTUS. If they choose to cave, that's their right. But Democratic causes should not be doing business with this firm. They made their choice!

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Cynthia Goforth's avatar

As a 90 year old retired rural attorney from a small Missouri county, having never been a part of the urban or federal law scene, I write simply to thank you and say that every word of this powerful article rings true and imperative if we are to survive, even here in the sticks.

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Danny Duece's avatar

I could feel your disappointment - it doesn’t bode well. Your analysis going forward is appreciated. Thank you

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EmiM's avatar

Thank you for standing for Truth to Power! —A Quote from you, Andrew: “First, lawyers and law firms need to stand together. They need to keep taking these cases and upholding the rule of law.” Yes! Stand Together: Andrew, Pease do this: Send a letter, to all prominent law firms, and Lawyers you know, throughout the US— asking them to come to an online meeting to discuss what strategies should be applied when they face this kind of abuse. Together you all can form a WALL AROUND the LAWS —of our democracy. Together we Stand! Andrew, Gather Them—Gird their loins—And Stand Together for us all. “If not Now When? If Not You Who??” Thank you Andrew.👋☝️🙏

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GapaMu's avatar

So so true, because UNITED WE STAND but DIVIDED WE CRUMBLE. 🙏🏾

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Bongo-1, VT's avatar

The same goes for Columbia. May all other colleges and universities unite and resist.

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Jane A Preston's avatar

Thanks for AGAIN for standing up for what is right for our rule of law and for our democracy.

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Nancy Natale's avatar

I agree that becoming a doormat only leads to being stamped on and muddied up.

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