May 19, 2017

Lieberman's connection with Trump

The positive reaction to the possible appointment of Joe Lieberman as FBI director is a reminder that Donald Trump is only the most extreme example of Washington corruption.

Politico - Lieberman ... works as special counsel at the same law firm with Marc Kasowitz, Trump's longtime lawyer in New York, which could be an issue for Democrats, a senior Democratic aide said.

Trump often talks to Kasowitz, who’s also represented Bill O'Reilly, the Fox News anchor, and other prominent New Yorkers.

Daily Dot - Kasowitz, Benson, Torres [is] a law firm specializing in commercial litigation that has represented Trump on numerous legal issues.

Marc E. Kasowitz, a partner at the firm, threatened “prompt initiation of appropriate legal action” against the New York Times in October of last year after the newspaper published a page from his 1995 tax returns. Kasowitz also demanded a “full and immediate retraction” after the Times published women’s claims of sexual assault by Trump.

Trump has used the law firm many times in the past—including a legal battle with an author who claimed Trump was not a billionaire, according to the Washington Post. Kasowitz was also named a lead attorney for the defense of Russia’s largest state-run bank.

Newsweek -  “In the past, people knew Kasowitz Benson Torres and Friedman as a firm that was full of ‘superior legal minds,’” Staci Zaretsky of the legal news website Above The Law wrote in March, referencing a quote from a 2011 lawsuit against the firm. “These days, people know Kasowitz Benson Torres and Friedman as a firm with close ties to President Donald Trump, with two name partners deeply entrenched in his regime.”

The firm has also defended former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly against allegations of sexual harassment. Kasowitz has also represented OJSC Sberbank of Russia, the country’s largest state-run bank, as Buzzfeed News has pointed out.

Besides legal matters, Trump appears to be turning to the law firm for help filling positions. In December, Trump appointed Friedman as ambassador to Israel. Congress later confirmed the appointment. Trump is also reportedly considering Edward McNally, also a partner at the firm, to succeed Preet Bharara as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Since Trump took office, Lieberman, who in 2006 switched his affiliation from Democrat to Independent, has appeared supportive of the president. In March, he spoke in positive terms about Trump’s stance on Iran, saying, “Though I will say that I was a proud supporter of Secretary Clinton in the election last year, when it comes to the question of Iran, the change from President [Barack] Obama to President Trump is an enormously significant and hopeful change.” In an interview in late January, when asked about Trump’s plans for a wall along the border with Mexico, Lieberman called it “risky,” using far milder terms than others in politics have done.

Lieberman also introduced Trump’s pick for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, during her Senate confirmation hearing in January.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

If someone said Lieberman is a certified creep and a political punko I would not gainsay the speaker.