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Trump election lawyers on trial in court of public opinion

Published

4 years ago

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by Charlotte Plantive

Written in giant capital letters, it’s nearly impossible to miss the message emblazoned along a San Francisco street: “Jones Day: Hands off our ballots.”

The Jones Day law firm on the receiving end of the painted directive is working on US President Donald Trump’s legal crusade against the outcome of last week’s presidential election.

The outgoing president and most Republican allies have so far refused to recognize the win of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, decrying massive “fraud” and launching a dozen complaints in several key states.

But the judicial fight is lacking one important element: any evidence pointing to such fraud.

That fact has put the lawyers of Jones Day and other firms involved in a bind, with political activists and legal colleagues alike accusing them of undermining democracy.

The anti-Trump Republican group The Lincoln Project denounced Jones Day and Porter Wright — another law firm assisting Trump’s effort — on Twitter.

“Employees of @JonesDay & @PorterWright, do you believe your law firms should be attempting to overturn the will of the American people?”

And even other attorneys have challenged their peers’ involvement.

“The deeper they venture down the Trump conspiracy rabbit hole, armed with nothing more than futile lawsuits premised on flimsy evidentiary or legal bases, the more their professional reputations and law licenses are at risk,” lawyers Bradley Moss and Joanne Molinaro warned in an opinion piece in The Atlantic.

‘Frivolous’

The American Bar Association’s code of ethics prohibits lawyers from bringing “frivolous” assertions — claims without legal merit or evidence — before a court, according to Joshua Davis at the Center for Law and Ethics at the University of San Francisco.

“A lot of these (Trump election) cases… seem to come very close to the line and maybe cross the line into being frivolous,” according to Davis.

It is rare, however, for judges or bars to impose sanctions for violating this standard, and Davis told AFP it is unlikely they would want to insert themselves into “that sort of a political mess” now.

Fordham University law professor Bruce Green has a different dispute with the cases.

“I think the real criticism is not so much that they’re frivolous,” he said, “but that they’re not going to prevail.”

“And even if they prevail, they wouldn’t change the election result,” Green said, noting that the lawyers were likely motivated by their allegiance to the Republicans, with their work boosting the party’s fundraising efforts amid the polarizing legal battle.

That doesn’t mean those motives can’t be questioned, Green said.

“Why are they using their professional talent on these cases, rather than something more worthy of their time and abilities?” he asked.

“But that’s not a legal question.”

‘Ideological sympathies’

The two firms have defended their positions.

“Porter Wright has a long history of election law work during which we have represented Democratic, Republican and independent campaigns and issues,” it told AFP in an email.

In a statement, Jones Day explained the firm is not involved “in any litigation alleging voter fraud,” but simply representing the Pennsylvania Republican Party in “an important and recurring rule-of-law question under the US Constitution” relating to mail-in ballots.

Pennsylvania is a linchpin in Trump’s efforts to cast doubt on the electoral process — and where courts are reviewing many Democratic voters’ choice to mail in their ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Several Jones Day lawyers have served in the Trump administration, including former White House legal advisor Don McGahn.

And the firm has donated more than $4 million to the Republican Party this year, according to the Federal Election Commission.

“I don’t think it’s money,” Stephen Gillers, a legal ethics professor at New York University, speculated. “(Jones Day) does not need this business.”

“I think some of what it does may be driven, in part, by ideological sympathies on the part of the lawyers,” he said, given some partners’ relationship to the Republican Party.

Their work on the case is “perfectly legal and ethical,” he said.

“The problem that Jones Day faces is that it can hurt its reputation,” Gillers said, noting that clients or potential hires may be turned off after this episode.

Trump’s legal battles on this front are unusual — and for some, alarming — in a country accustomed to mostly smooth transfers of power, even between political rivals.

But, “there are 1.3 million lawyers in the United States,” Gillers said. “If Jones Day turned down the work, another firm would accept it.”

– AFP

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International

Iran fires 180 missiles at Israel in response to escalating tensions

Iran fired 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday (1 Oct), claiming it was retaliation for Israeli airstrikes and assassinations of key figures in Gaza, Lebanon, and Tehran. Most missiles were intercepted, but Israel vowed retaliation. The United States condemned the attack as a “significant escalation,” heightening concerns of a broader conflict.

Published

2 days ago

on

2 October 2024

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Iran launched a large-scale missile attack against Israel on Tuesday (1 Oct), escalating tensions in the already volatile region.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), around 180 projectiles were fired at Israel, prompting a coordinated missile defence effort with the United States.

Israel’s military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, confirmed that the nation’s air defences successfully intercepted the majority of the Iranian missiles.

However, some projectiles reached central and southern Israel, causing minor injuries to two civilians.

In the West Bank, Palestinian officials reported the death of a Palestinian man near Jericho after being struck by a missile, though it remains unclear which side was responsible for that particular strike.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the strike, stating that it targeted “vital military and security installations.”

Iran claimed that Tuesday’s missile strikes were in retaliation for the recent deaths of key figures from Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Iranian military.

It specifically referenced Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforushan, both of whom were killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in Beirut.

The operation also cited the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was reportedly killed in Tehran in a suspected Israeli attack in July.

In response to the missile strikes, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran had made a “big mistake” and would face severe consequences for the attack.

“Iran made a big mistake tonight—and it will pay for it,” Netanyahu said.

“The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and retaliate against our enemies.”

His remarks strongly signaled that Israeli retaliation was imminent, increasing concerns about a potential spiral into a broader regional war.

Iran defended its actions, with President Masoud Pezeshkian posting on social media that the missile strikes were a defensive response to Israeli provocations.

“Let Netanyahu know that Iran is not a belligerent, but it stands firmly against any threat. This is only a corner of our power,” Pezeshkian stated, warning Israel not to enter into further conflict with Iran.

On the international front, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan characterized Iran’s attack as a significant escalation, but noted that it had been effectively neutralized by Israel’s missile defense systems.

“At this point this attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective,” Sullivan remarked, though he acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.

US President Joe Biden reiterated the United States’ support for Israel, but stressed that his administration was in close consultation with Israeli officials to determine an appropriate response.

“We’re going to get all the data straight,” Biden said.

“We’re in constant contact with the Israeli government and our counterparts, and that remains to be seen.”

Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a statement on Wednesday (2 Oct) defending its missile operation as a “legal, rational, and legitimate response” to Israel’s actions.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the mission warned that any retaliatory actions by Israel would trigger a more severe Iranian response.

“Should the Zionist regime dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue,” the mission stated.

The message also advised other regional actors and supporters of Israel to distance themselves from the Israeli government.

Military bases in Tel Aviv, targeted in the strike, have sustained structural damage, according to the IRGC. However, these claims have not been independently verified.

Videos on X (formerly Twitter) show missiles intercepted and hitting ground targets, contrary to Israel’s claim of no damage done.

International reactions have also begun to emerge. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the continued escalation, calling for an immediate ceasefire. In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Guterres stated, “This broadening of the Middle East conflict must stop.”

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International

World leaders urge Israel to halt Lebanon offensive amid escalating conflict

On 1 October 2024, Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon, killing at least 95 people and injuring 172. The attacks, aimed at Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, have sparked international concern. World leaders, including US President Joe Biden, are calling for a ceasefire, warning that further escalation could lead to a regional catastrophe.

Published

3 days ago

on

1 October 2024

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Israel launched a series of airstrikes and artillery bombardments on southern Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of at least 95 people and injuries to 172 others.

The attacks, which began early on Tuesday (1 Oct), are part of Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group that operates in Lebanon.

The strikes were aimed at Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in the region and marked a significant escalation in the hostilities between Israel and the group.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the military operation is “limited, localized, and targeted.”

The goal of the operation, according to IDF statements, is to protect Israeli citizens, particularly those residing in northern Israel, and to facilitate the return of displaced residents to their homes.

This development comes amid a growing concern in the international community over the potential for a broader regional conflict, with multiple world leaders calling for a ceasefire and urging Israel to refrain from launching a ground invasion into Lebanon.

US President Joe Biden called on Israel to avoid a ground campaign in southern Lebanon during a press event at the White House on Monday (30 Sept).

Biden, while stressing the need for an immediate ceasefire, did not elaborate on any specific US actions or plans to halt the conflict.

In response to a reporter’s question, Biden expressed his awareness of the situation, stating, “I am more aware than you might know, and I am comfortable with them stopping.”

Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, also expressed deep concern over the violence, particularly the loss of civilian lives.

Lahbib emphasized the importance of respecting international law, suggesting that the current crises in both Gaza and Lebanon are intertwined.

She warned that a failure to address these issues could lead to a dangerous regional escalation.

The UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, David Lammy, added his voice to the growing international calls for a ceasefire.

Following discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Lammy reiterated the need for a political solution to the crisis.

He stressed the importance of implementing a plan that would allow displaced Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return to their homes.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell underscored the need to avoid further military intervention in Lebanon, cautioning that any such actions could dramatically worsen the situation.

“Any further military intervention would dramatically aggravate the situation, and it has to be avoided.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also weighed in, urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent any regional escalation.

Modi highlighted the importance of ensuring the safe release of hostages and expressed India’s commitment to supporting efforts to restore peace and stability.

UN experts warn of regional catastrophe amid escalating Israel-Lebanon conflict

UN experts warned on Monday (30 Sept) that the escalating conflict between Israel and Lebanon could lead to a regional humanitarian and geopolitical catastrophe.

The experts expressed deep concern over the intensifying violence, with Hezbollah launching missiles indiscriminately and Israel responding with large-scale airstrikes across Lebanon.

This surge in violence is exacerbating instability and civilian suffering, particularly in Lebanon and Palestine.

The experts condemned Israel’s use of destructive force in Lebanon, similar to its actions in Gaza.

They criticised Israel for justifying attacks on civilians by claiming Hezbollah fighters hide among them, using civilians as human shields.

The experts argued that the airstrikes in densely populated areas, where residential buildings are being destroyed with little warning, violate international humanitarian law and could amount to domicide, or the mass destruction of homes.

They also highlighted the ongoing violence against Palestinians, calling it a genocidal campaign.

Referring to a recent explosion of booby-trapped electronic devices in Lebanon that caused widespread casualties, the experts condemned those who praised such tactics, calling them criminal.

The experts further warned that double standards in condemning terror while granting impunity threaten the global democratic order.

They stressed the need to address fundamental issues fueling the violence, including the illegal occupation of Palestine, arms supplies to non-state actors, and extrajudicial killings.

The experts called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged the UN Security Council to take swift action.

They emphasised the need to protect civilians, investigate crimes, and strengthen the UN’s presence in the region to prevent further escalation.

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