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Why Lawyers Hire Lawyers. (Original Post) MineralMan Jun 2017 OP
Further... Else You Are Mad Jun 2017 #1
It's Lawyers all the way down. MineralMan Jun 2017 #3
As a lawyer... Else You Are Mad Jun 2017 #5
Tee Hee! MineralMan Jun 2017 #7
Oh, you aren't wrong. Else You Are Mad Jun 2017 #8
I like that Hekate Jun 2017 #13
I agree with your analysis Gothmog Jun 2017 #11
'sides that, only a fool represents himself in court. shraby Jun 2017 #2
Great minds post alike! Else You Are Mad Jun 2017 #6
Because only they know just how devious and destructive a lawyer can be. Eliot Rosewater Jun 2017 #4
No; the reason lawyers hire lawyers is that The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2017 #9
Thank you V.O., for your unfailing patience, marybourg Jun 2017 #10
Trump's own attorneys used to insist on having two lawyers at all meetings Gothmog Jun 2017 #12
If it weren't Trump's loyal attorney... Else You Are Mad Jun 2017 #14
That is my guess as well. I think he knows he could be in big trouble. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2017 #15
They will hide behind... Else You Are Mad Jun 2017 #16
Executive privilege can't be used to cover up evidence of a crime - The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2017 #17
Oh we all know that... Else You Are Mad Jun 2017 #18
There is also the '2nd' opinion which can be used defensively Fresh_Start Jun 2017 #19

Else You Are Mad

(3,040 posts)
1. Further...
Fri Jun 16, 2017, 02:30 PM
Jun 2017

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.

Eliot Rosewater

(31,097 posts)
4. Because only they know just how devious and destructive a lawyer can be.
Fri Jun 16, 2017, 02:31 PM
Jun 2017

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)
9. No; the reason lawyers hire lawyers is that
Fri Jun 16, 2017, 02:40 PM
Jun 2017

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.

Gothmog

(143,999 posts)
12. Trump's own attorneys used to insist on having two lawyers at all meetings
Fri Jun 16, 2017, 02:57 PM
Jun 2017

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/


?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)
14. If it weren't Trump's loyal attorney...
Fri Jun 16, 2017, 03:07 PM
Jun 2017

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)
15. That is my guess as well. I think he knows he could be in big trouble.
Fri Jun 16, 2017, 03:19 PM
Jun 2017

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)
16. They will hide behind...
Fri Jun 16, 2017, 03:21 PM
Jun 2017

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)
17. Executive privilege can't be used to cover up evidence of a crime -
Fri Jun 16, 2017, 03:25 PM
Jun 2017

United States v. Nixon. They might try, though.

Else You Are Mad

(3,040 posts)
18. Oh we all know that...
Fri Jun 16, 2017, 03:31 PM
Jun 2017

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)
19. There is also the '2nd' opinion which can be used defensively
Fri Jun 16, 2017, 05:49 PM
Jun 2017

...as in, we got an expert 2nd opinion but it didn't work out.

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