Six lawyers are alleged co~conspirators of Trump

Lawyer(s) of the Week

Sometimes lawyers will be honored here, sometimes not so much. In the inaugural edition of this newsletter, the award goes to those lawyers who will go down in history for being named as co-conspirators in the criminal indictment of a former president.

• Co-Conspirator 1, “an attorney who was willing to spread knowingly false claims and pursue strategies that the Defendant’s 2020 re-election campaign attorneys would not.” Likely Rudy Giuliani, whose New York law license was suspended in 2021 over his involvement in the election fraud cases. A committee for the D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility recommended disbarment in June 2023, which will be reviewed by the full board later this year. https://www.dcbar.org/Attorney-Discipline/Disciplinary-Decisions/Disciplinary-Case?docketno=22-BD-027 

• Co-Conspirator 2, “an attorney who devised and attempted to implement a strategy to leverage the Vice President's ceremonial role overseeing the certification proceeding to obstruct the certification of the presidential election.” Likely John Eastman, who awaits a ruling from the California State Bar Court on his disbarment after a June 2023 hearing.

• Co-Conspirator 3, “an attorney whose unfounded claims of election fraud the Defendant privately acknowledged to others sounded ‘crazy.’ Nonetheless, the Defendant embraced and publicly amplified Co-Conspirator 3's disinformation.” Likely Sidney Powell, who was sanctioned by a federal judge with fines and mandatory continuing legal education for lies about the election advanced in court.

• Co-Conspirator 4, “a Justice Department official who worked on civil matters and who, with the Defendant, attempted to use the Justice Department to open sham election crime investigations and influence state legislatures with knowingly false claims of election fraud.” Likely Jeffery Clark, who faces discipline charges before the D.C. Bar for dishonesty and interference with the administration of justice.

• Co-Conspirator 5, “an attorney who assisted in devising and attempting to implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceeding.” Likely Kenneth Chesebro, who was referred in a letter by the nonprofit organization Lawyers Defending Democracy (signed by numerous attorneys and academics) for discipline by New York’s Attorney Grievance Committee.

• Co-Conspirator 6, “a political consultant who helped implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceeding.” Reportedly Boris Epshteyn, also a lawyer.

• By Prof. Renée Knake Jefferson  (University of Houston)