Thread by @lhfang

Lawsuit reveals that lawyers for the 9/11 victims promised lobbyists a cut of the $$$ they win from foreign assets. New filings show lawyers are already scrambling to grab a slice of the $3.5 billion seized from the Afghan people - while millions starve. theintercept.com/2022/02/16/afg…

Kreindler & Kreindler, one of the law firms that filed yesterday to demand a piece of the $3.5 billion, hired lobbyist firm NVG in December to work on 9/11 litigation issues. NVG's co-founder helped Biden with Asian American outreach during the campaign and is a big Dem donor.

In a message to 9/11 victim clients sent this week, Kreindler & Kreindler promised that there are still many outstanding legal issues surrounding the payout, and they would be "continuing to work with our lobbying team" to influence Biden's Department of Justice.

Andrew Maloney, a partner at Kreindler & Kreindler, arguing his firm deserves Afghanistan's money b/c they didn't fight the Taliban hard enough. "The reality is, the Afghan people didn't stand up to the Taliban ... they bear responsibility for the condition they're in."

The DAB central bank is basically a rainy day fund for the Afghan people, it’s also money reserved for bank deposits. This seizure — much of which could go to over $500m in fees to American lawyers and lobbyists — comes as millions of Afghans face starvation and banks collapse.

Here’s one of the original contracts between Kreindler & Kreindler a set of lobbyists, including CNN contributor Jack Quinn, promising 1 percent of the total 9/11 victims litigation award recovery, in exchange for help influencing policymakers, including seizing foreign assets.

Earlier this week, we also reported that the lead “Havlish” attorney in line to seize the Afghan bank funds on behalf of plaintiffs is Lee Wolosky, who until recently worked in Biden’s White House on Afghan issues. theintercept.com/2022/02/15/afg…