General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy Lawyers Hire Lawyers.
The concept is: "Bury Them in Paper!"
That's why.
Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)Any lawyer that represents himself has a fool for a client. I see it as an attorney worried that they will be in legal trouble.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)That is a well-established fact.
Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)I will recuse myself from further comment!
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)There's always a risk of offense, but I'm a well-known risk taker.
Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)Hekate
(90,189 posts)Gothmog
(143,999 posts)Lawyers would be crazy to not engage counsel in this area
shraby
(21,946 posts)Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(31,097 posts)Many laws exist to protect the wealthy and punish everybody else. Trump and GOP want more of that.
Problem is, again, most of the people they are trying to harm , VOTE for them.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,270 posts)they had dealings with a sketchy client, and depending on their involvement they are concerned that that client could take them down with them. The lawyer hires another lawyer to protect him from that eventuality, especially by trying to rely on the attorney-client privilege. The lawyer's communications to his sketchy client, if involved with providing legal advice, are protected by the attorney-client privilege, but there are exceptions: (1) it doesn't apply if the communication was made in the presence of a third person; or (2) if it was made for the purpose of committing a crime; or (3) if the client has waived the privilege by publicly disclosing it.
So: If Michael Cohen has lawyered up on account of his work with Trump, he may be concerned he'll be called as a witness, which could, of course, result in legal jeopardy to him as well. His communications with Trump are not privileged if made in connection with the commission of a crime. Did Cohen offer Trump advice on, for example, money-laundering? If so, there's no privilege, and Cohen himself might even be charged with, for example, conspiracy.
It's way bigger and more serious than being buried in paper. Lawyers are used to that.
marybourg
(12,540 posts)and willingness to enlighten the cynical.
Gothmog
(143,999 posts)Trump is not loyal and has a bad memory. http://www.rawstory.com/2016/10/trumps-own-bankruptcy-lawyers-say-he-lies-so-much-they-could-only-meet-with-him-in-pairs/
Link to tweet
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rawstory.com%2F2016%2F10%2Ftrumps-own-bankruptcy-lawyers-say-he-lies-so-much-they-could-only-meet-with-him-in-pairs%2F
Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)I would agree. I don't think that this has to do with any ethics and evidence issues. I would think that Cohen was deeply involved with Trump's illegal transactions. Any lawyer worth their salt knows when their clients are doing something illegal and most attorneys would end the relationship via whatever state's rules dictate. I think that this Cohn was making too much money that he intentionally didn't ask the questions he had to ask because he didn't want to know the answers and now knows he is about to be implicated in international money laundering schemes.
My guess is that he probably is worried that he either was the closing agent or, at minimum, the contract negotiator with the shady Trump and Russian dealings.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,270 posts)My point was only that if he was involved in or engineered Trump's dirty deeds he will be unable to hide behind the attorney-client privilege. And where Trump is concerned, the whole concept of ethics is completely out the window.
Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)Executive privilege for as long as Congress will allow him. I wouldn't be surprised that his attorney would be disbarred from any jurisdiction he is barred in if he hides behind Trump in the face of overwhelming illegal evidence.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,270 posts)United States v. Nixon. They might try, though.
Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)Not might try, they have already did so. For example, look at how Sessions created a non-existent pre-emptive executive privilege exemption rule with no real push back from the GOP lead commission.
Fresh_Start
(11,330 posts)...as in, we got an expert 2nd opinion but it didn't work out.