Thread— I want to talk about how unusual it is that so many talented lawyers in the white collar criminal defense bar have turned down Trump. My observations based on years I practiced with a firm that had a nationally-known crim defense practice 1/
There have been some very toxic white collar crim defendants in the last 25 years. Financial fraudsters on a grand scale, where thousands lost all $$ & jobs. All rep’d by best & brightest in white collar bar. 2/
If white collar crim defense firms/practices steered clear of unsavory clients, that would be the end of those firms/practices. Everyone deserves a defense the saying goes — especially if you can pay. 3/
What’s being reported re Trump has 2 elements. 1. Clients are telling firms — if you represent Trump, I’ll take my biz elsewhere. He’s so toxic, so outside the bounds of even the worst white collar crim defense client that corporate America doesn’t want any part of it. 4/
This is like what we saw eventually with South African apartheid & then Big Tobacco. Clients & firm lawyers saying they’ll bolt over a firm’s representation of such evil. 5/
That’s the level of toxicity Trump brings —on a level with apartheid & Big Tobacco. Amazing for a US president. 6/
2nd issue is the risk management with a client like Trump. He doesn’t understand “the truth” & lies out of habit & necessity. That puts lawyers in very tough position re preparing a defense. 7/
Lawyers make representations to the government & to courts based on info provided by client. If a lawyer doesn’t know when a client is telling the truth or even what truth is, puts lawyer in very bad situation. 8/
Trump’s situation is, in theory, a crim defense lawyers’ dream — smart, tough prosecutors; novel legal theories. And yet lawyers are running fast & far the other way. Remarkable & damning. Fin/
