Bush Administration must have some really good dirt on a certain lawyer

[ck4829]

This lawyer could be defending a guy linked to the CIA torture flights scandal, and the thing is, the guy being defended may not even exist.

"Portland attorney Scott Caplan says "client confidences" prevent him from identifying Leonard Thomas Bayard, a mysterious businessman whose company is linked by human rights activists to allegations of CIA-sponsored torture. In a letter to the Oregon State Bar last week, Caplan denied any wrongdoing and asked a professional complaint against him be dismissed.

The bar is investigating an allegation that Caplan represented the company, Bayard Foreign Marketing, under false pretenses. Bayard once owned a Gulfstream jet that human rights groups say has been used by the CIA to ferry terrorism suspects to countries that allegedly practice torture.

As Bayard's attorney, Caplan registered the company with the state in 2003. The company's registration identifies its owner as Leonard Bayard, but public records searches by newspapers and human rights organizations have been unable to locate him. Activists charge that Bayard and his company were made up by the CIA.

Bar disciplinary counsel Mary Cooper wrote to Caplan last month and asked that he identify Bayard, warning of potential disciplinary action if he does not. In his letter, dated Jan. 31, Caplan replied that he cannot comply with her request."

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1170818763231640.xml&coll=7