Is Trump too much of a perjury risk for potential lawyers? That and other possibilities.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A New York Times report about President Trump's failures to fill out his legal team includes this very interesting section about Trump's recently departed personal lawyer, John Dowd:

One reason Mr. Dowd quit was that, against his advice, Mr. Trump was insistent that he wanted to answer questions under oath from [special counsel Robert S. Mueller III], believing that it would help clear him.


Mr. Dowd had concluded that there was no upside and that the president, who often does not tell the truth, could increase his legal exposure if his answers were not accurate.

This is all very neutrally and cautiously put, but the more simply stated upshot is this: Dowd was worried Trump was about to perjure himself. Whether Dowd left specifically because of that or, more generally, because Trump wouldn't listen to him is kind of beside the point. Dowd apparently had no faith in what would happen if and when Trump talks to Mueller.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/is-trump-too-much-of-a-perjury-risk-for-potential-lawyers-that-and-other-possibilities/ar-BBKMBTJ?li=BBnb7Kz

[triron]

1. They know Trump is guilty as hell.

[TomSlick]

3. It's OK for lawyers to represent guilty people - in fact it's essential to the system of justice.

The problem comes when clients commit perjury. The ethical rules of how to respond if a client commits perjury are so thorny, a lawyer would be unwise to take on a client knowing s/he is likely to commit perjury.

[triron]

5. When you are guilty of conspiracy against the United States and either treason or sedition?

I wouldn't want to be an attorney that defended a traitor.

[TomSlick]

6. Sure.

Every criminal defendant is entitled to a lawyer.

One of the things that differentiate countries that operate under a rule of law is the right to counsel. One of the proud examples of the part lawyers play in America is the defense of the Boston Massacre defendants by Samuel Adams - at considerable risk to his law practice.

[link:http://www.john-adams-heritage.com/boston-massacre-trials/|

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. Trump lies the way a three year old does.

He just says whatever he wants to and expects others to believe him.

So yeah, his attorneys need to be very, very worried that he wont tell the truth under oath.

[Awsi Dooger]

4. Risk is hilarious in this context

Perjury certainty