DOCSLIB.ORG

Alternative Facts, Alternative Ethics?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Alternative Facts, Alternative Ethics? ALTERNATIVE FACTS, ALTERNATIVE ETHICS? The Challenges of Lawyering in the Trump Era Judy Cornett Professor, The University of Tennessee College of Law In collaboration with Brian Wilson, UT Law Class of 2019 TY COBB • White House Special Counsel: July 2017 – May 2018 • Cobb had lunch with co-counsel John Dowd at a Washington, D.C. restaurant in earshot of a New York Times reporter. A cell-phone picture of and article about their conservation made the Sunday paper. • “They were in a public place where they could have been overheard by anyone, so I figured their conversation was fair game.” Kenneth Vogel, “A Reporter’s Accidental Scoop,” N.Y. T IMES , Sept. 20, 2017, at A2. TY COBB • “To my astonishment, they were in the midst of a detailed discussion of the Russia investigation being conducted by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, and various congressional committees, as well as the strategy of Mr. Trump’s team for responding.” • “They discussed presidential privilege and its effect on document production, tensions on the legal team and their colleagues. Mr. Cobb suggested one colleague was not on the President’s good side, but added, ‘I’m trying to get the president not to pick a fight with her.’” Kenneth Vogel, “A Reporter’s Accidental Scoop,” N.Y. Times, Sept. 20, 2017, at A2. TY COBB • Their actions not only made their legal strategies vulnerable to publication, but also exposed them to ethics violations. • Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct – Rule 1.6 – Confidentiality • (a) A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless: • (1) the client gives informed consent; • (2) the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out the representation; or • (3) the disclosure is permitted by paragraph (b) or required by paragraph (c). TY COBB • “Both of these experienced lawyers are familiar with and presumably fully appreciate their professional ethical obligations to take reasonable measures to safeguard client-confidential information. BLT Steak DC, where they conversed so freely, is located next door to the Times. It is not reasonable to take a table there, much less anywhere, and engage in discussions of an exquisitely privileged nature.” Bob Bauer, Clashes (and Conflicts) of Interests: Trump White House Lawyers at Lunch and at War, LAWFARE, Sept. 19, 2017, https://lawfareblog.com/clashes-and-conflicts-interests-trump-white-house-lawyers-lunch- and-war. TY COBB • How easy is this to do? Very. • How do you protect against these situations? • “Clearly, when out in the public lawyers should be careful to avoid discussing confidential client information. Some state bar association ethics opinions have cautioned lawyers to be mindful of their duties to protect client confidences in various related contexts. ” Peter Geraghty, Loose Lips Can Sink Ships, AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION CENTER FOR PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, Oct. 2017, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/services/ethicssearch/ethicstipoctober20 17.html KELLYANNE CONWAY • "Our press secretary, Sean Spicer, gave alternative facts to [these claims], but the point remains that..." • “I bet it’s brand-new information to people that President Obama had a six-month ban on the Iraqi refugee program after two Iraqis came here Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons to this country, were radicalized, Meet the Press, NBC NEWS, Jan. 22, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/conway- and were the masterminds behind press-secretary-gave-alternative-facts-860142147643 the Bowling Green Massacre. Most Hardball with Chris Matthews, MSNBC, Jan. 29, 2017, people don’t know that because it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-w16cyQ8wQ didn’t get covered.” KELLYANNE CONWAY • Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct – Rule 8.4 – Misconduct • It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: • (a) violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another; • (b) commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects; • (c): engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; KELLYANNE CONWAY • Several attorneys drafted a letter accusing Conway, a member of the D.C. Bar, of misconduct. • “Generally speaking, we do not believe that lawyers should face discipline under this Rule for public or private dishonesty or misrepresentations unless the lawyer’s conduct calls into serious question his or her ‘fitness for the practice of law’… or indicates that the lawyer ‘lacks the character required for bar membership.’” • “However, we believe that lawyers in public office—Ms. Conway is Counselor to the President— have a higher obligation to avoid conduct involving dishonest, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation than other lawyers.” Letter from Abbe Smith et al to Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Board of Professional Responsibility, D.C. Court of Appeals (Feb. 20, 2017) (available at http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/national/read- the-misconduct-complaint-sent-by-law-professors-against-white-house-counsel-kellyanne-conway/2346/). KELLYANNE CONWAY • “We do not file this complaint lightly… We believe that, at one time, Ms. Conway, understood her ethical responsibilities as a lawyer and abided by them. But she is currently acting in a way that brings shame upon the legal profession. As the Preamble to the Model Rules states, a lawyer plays an important role as a ‘public citizen’ in addition to our other roles.” Letter from Abbe Smith et al to Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Board of Professional Responsibility, D.C. Court of Appeals (Feb. 20, 2017) (available at http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/national/read- the-misconduct-complaint-sent-by-law-professors-against-white-house-counsel-kellyanne-conway/2346/). KELLYANNE CONWAY • “If Ms. Conway were not a lawyer and was ‘only’ engaging in politics, there would be few limits on her conduct outside of the political process itself. She could say and do what she wished and still call herself a politician. But she is a lawyer. And her conduct, clearly intentionally violative of the rules that regulate her professional status, cries out for sanctioning by the DC Bar.” Letter from Abbe Smith et al to Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Board of Professional Responsibility, D.C. Court of Appeals (Feb. 20, 2017) (available at http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/national/read- the-misconduct-complaint-sent-by-law-professors-against-white-house-counsel-kellyanne-conway/2346/). KELLYANNE CONWAY • Other attorneys believe these allegations are overblown, particularly given the non-legal context of her remarks. • “[E]thics charges should not be a form of politics by other means and, with all due respect to these accomplished academics, this letter strikes me as raising largely political objections to Conway’s work as a spokesperson for the Administration.” • “The inclusion of such a controversy in my view wholly undermines the credibility of the ethics charge. The professors are asking that the bar presume that Conway intentionally lied eve though such a lie would be immediately challenged and she later apologized. Moreover, she was acting not as a lawyer but as a political spokesperson in such a capacity.” Jonathan Turley, Law Professors File Ethics Complaint Against Kellyanne Conway, JONATHANTURLEY.ORG (Feb. 24, 2017), https://jonathanturley.org/2017/02/24/law-professors-file-ethics-complaint-against-kellyanne- conway/. KELLYANNE CONWAY • “As a liberal Democrat, I have no sympathy for Conway’s habitual disregard for truth. As a professor of legal ethics, however, I think this complaint is dangerously misguided and has the potential to set a terrible precedent. If one of the president’s chief advisers cannot freely speak her mind, even when it is full of nonsense, then who can?” • “Imposing discipline on Conway—even the mildest slap on the wrist—would inevitably lead to a slew of new complaints against attorneys involved in public debate.” Steven Lubet, In Defense of Kellyanne Conway, SLATE, (Feb 27, 2017, 9:22 AM), http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2017/02/the_misconduct_complaint_agai nst_kellyanne_conway_is_dangerously_misguided.html. KELLYANNE CONWAY • Is this zealous representation of a client, or fraudulent and deceitful conduct? • Is there a line between spin and outright lies? • How does an advocate’s role change from politics to the law? • Should Conway be disciplined? She is no longer a listed member of the D.C. Bar. MICHAEL COHEN • Attorney, for Donald Trump and Trump Organization since 2007 • Under federal investigation for possible bank fraud, campaign finance violations • “I am Mr. Trump's longtime special counsel and I have proudly served in that role for more than a decade. In a private transaction in 2016, I used my own personal funds to facilitate a payment of Photo credit: IowaPolitics.com/Wikimedia $130,000 to Ms. Stephanie Clifford.” Commons Rebecca Ballhaus et al, Trump Lawyer Said He Personally Paid Stormy Daniels, WALL ST. J., Feb. 14, 2018, https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lawyer-says-he-personally-paid-stormy-daniels-1518585093 MICHAEL COHEN • “What are the stakes here for Cohen? First, if the payment was made ‘in connection with pending or contemplated litigation,’ it violates Rule 1.8, exposing Cohen to disciplinary sanctions. But that's only the beginning. If the payment was made as part of the campaign effort, as the timing suggests, it may have violated federal election laws as it was both unreported and exceeded the permitted amount for an individual contribution.” • “Therefore, if Cohen and Trump agreed to the payment as part of the campaign effort and agreed not to report the payment as an in-kind campaign contribution, this would violate Rule 1.2(d)'s prohibition against assisting a client in engaging in fraud. It would also violate Rule 8.4(c) which forbids conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.” Ellen C.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Officials Say Flynn Discussed Sanctions
    Officials say Flynn discussed sanctions The Washington Post February 10, 2017 Friday, Met 2 Edition Copyright 2017 The Washington Post All Rights Reserved Distribution: Every Zone Section: A-SECTION; Pg. A08 Length: 1971 words Byline: Greg Miller;Adam Entous;Ellen Nakashima Body Talks with Russia envoy said to have occurred before Trump took office National security adviser Michael Flynn privately discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with that country's ambassador to the United States during the month before President Trump took office, contrary to public assertions by Trump officials, current and former U.S. officials said. Flynn's communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak were interpreted by some senior U.S. officials as an inappropriate and potentially illegal signal to the Kremlin that it could expect a reprieve from sanctions that were being imposed by the Obama administration in late December to punish Russia for its alleged interference in the 2016 election. Flynn on Wednesday denied that he had discussed sanctions with Kislyak. Asked in an interview whether he had ever done so, he twice said, "No." On Thursday, Flynn, through his spokesman, backed away from the denial. The spokesman said Flynn "indicated that while he had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldn't be certain that the topic never came up." Officials said this week that the FBI is continuing to examine Flynn's communications with Kislyak. Several officials emphasized that while sanctions were discussed, they did not see evidence that Flynn had an intent to convey an explicit promise to take action after the inauguration. Flynn's contacts with the ambassador attracted attention within the Obama administration because of the timing.
    [Show full text]
  • Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House Of
    1 COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, D.C. INTERVIEWOF: DON MCGAHN Friday,June 4,2021 Washington,D.C. The interviewin the above matter was held in Room2141, Rayburn House Office Building,commencingat 10:05 a.m. 2 Present: RepresentativesNadler, Jackson Lee,Johnson of Georgia, Raskin, Scanlon, Dean, Jordan, and Gaetz. Staff Present: Perry Apelbaum,Staff Directorand Chief Counsel; Aaron Hiller, Deputy Chief Counsel; Arya Hariharan,Chief Oversight Counsel; Sarah Istel,Oversight Counsel; PriyankaMara, ProfessionalStaff Member; Cierra Fontenot,Chief Clerk; Kayla Hamedi,Deputy PressSecretary; Will Emmons,ProfessionalStaff Member; Anthony Valdez, ProfessionalStaff Member; Steve Castor,Minority GeneralCounsel; James Lesinski, Minority Counsel; Betsy Ferguson,Minority Senior Counsel; Caroline Nabity, Minority Counsel; Michael Koren, Minority Senior ProfessionalStaff; Darius Namazi, Minority Research Assistant; and Isabela Belchior, Legislative Director for Representative Matt Gaetz. 3 Appearances: For DONMCGAHN: ALLISON MCGUIRE WILLIAM A. BURCK QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN, LLP 1300 I Street NW Suite 900 Washington,D.C. 20005 For the DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: ELIZABETH SHAPIRO, COUNSEL For the OFFICE OF THE FORMERPRESIDENT TRUMP: SCOTT GAST 4 Mr. Hiller. All right. We'll go on the record. Good morning. I'm Aaron Hiller,deputy chief counselfor the House Judiciary Committee,and I havethe honor of kickingthings off today. This is a transcribed interview of former White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn. Would the witness please state his name and formal position at the White House for the record? Mr. McGahn. I'mDonald McGahn. I was the counsel to the President. Mr. Hiller. Thank you, sir. Thank you for appearingheretoday. I will now ask everyone who is herein the roomto introducethemselves for the record.
    [Show full text]
  • USA Today Snapshots
    USA TODAY — E1 SECTION B IN MONEY IN NEWS 03.19.17 How Trump may ROCK ’N’ ROLL FOUNDER hurt dairy farms CHUCK BERRY DIES AT 90 ROBYN BECK, AFP/GETTY IMAGES TANNEN MAURY EPA Meals on Wheels buzz has a flaw Trump Gregory Korte @gregorykorte budget’s USA TODAY impact on iconic WASHINGTON President program Trump’s first budget proposal to Congress last week specifi- to help cally identified steep cuts to seniors is hundreds of domestic pro- grams, but Meals on Wheels far from wasn’t one of them. certain The popular program — which mainly uses volunteer because drivers to provide hot meals to it doesn’t older Americans across the country — doesn’t directly re- get direct COUSIN: ‘KELLYANNE ceive federal funding. As federal Trump’s budget director, Mick Mulvaney, told reporters funding Thursday: “Meals on Wheels is WASN’T AFRAID not a federal program.” OF ANYTHING OR ANYONE’ ANNE-MARIE CARUSO, THE (BERGEN COUNTY, N.J.) RECORD Kellyanne Key Trump aide, defender Conway Conway, at TODD A. BUCHANAN, SPECIAL TO USA TODAY This is an edition of USA TODAY her home in Nevertheless, Meals on Jack Zimmer provided for . An expanded version doesn’t care when critics lash out of USA TODAY is available at Alpine, N.J., Wheels quickly became the delivers a newsstands or by subscription, and Conway has emerged as one of spends poster child for the impact of meal to Mar- at usatoday.com. Mike Kelly Trump’s most trusted advisers weekdays in Trump’s cuts. Even before the tha Scott in The (Bergen County, N.J.) Record and also why she continues to Washing- budget’s release, Rep.
    [Show full text]
  • Rinehart Right: Turnbull Must Learn from Trump
    Rinehart right: Turnbull must learn from Trump Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun November 23, 2016 3:22am No minister of this Turnbull Government has welcomed the election of Donald Trump. But Gina Rinehart, the iron ore and cattle baroness, is surely right to say Trump has plenty to teach the Government - and it must follow him to save us from turning into another Greece. Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has urged the Australian government to adopt the stimulatory policies being promised by US president-elect Donald Trump or risk following Greece along an - “irresponsible’’ path of increasing government expenditure and debt. The nation’s richest woman, who recently visited Washington where she met members of Mr Trump’s campaign team — including former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and campaign manager Kellyanne Conway — said the Republican Party team won the election “because they listened to the people of America’’. Mrs Rinehart also took a swipe at the US media, noting the Trump team prevailed in the polls despite “constant and unrelenting negative coverage of the president-elect, including at times his loyal supporters, such as his wife, in attempts to upset the focus of the president-elect’’. “People close to the president-elect and his campaign advised that their countrymen told them they wanted, firstly, less government tape, secondly less taxation, and for the USA to grow and be economically strong again, and provide more sustainable jobs. And how exciting, this is exactly what the president-elect, and his team, are advising they want to deliver for America and its struggling economy,’’ Mrs Rinehart said in a speech delivered for yesterday’s National Mining and Related Industries Day..
    [Show full text]
  • FOIA) Document Clearinghouse in the World
    This document is made available through the declassification efforts and research of John Greenewald, Jr., creator of: The Black Vault The Black Vault is the largest online Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document clearinghouse in the world. The research efforts here are responsible for the declassification of hundreds of thousands of pages released by the U.S. Government & Military. Discover the Truth at: http://www.theblackvault.com Received Received Request ID Requester Name Organization Closed Date Final Disposition Request Description Mode Date 17-F-0001 Greenewald, John The Black Vault PAL 10/3/2016 11/4/2016 Granted/Denied in Part I respectfully request a copy of records, electronic or otherwise, of all contracts past and present, that the DOD / OSD / JS has had with the British PR firm Bell Pottinger. Bell Pottinger Private (legally BPP Communications Ltd.; informally Bell Pottinger) is a British multinational public relations and marketing company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. 17-F-0002 Palma, Bethania - PAL 10/3/2016 11/4/2016 Other Reasons - No Records Contracts with Bell Pottinger for information operations and psychological operations. (Date Range for Record Search: From 01/01/2007 To 12/31/2011) 17-F-0003 Greenewald, John The Black Vault Mail 10/3/2016 1/13/2017 Other Reasons - Not a proper FOIA I respectfully request a copy of the Intellipedia category index page for the following category: request for some other reason Nuclear Weapons Glossary 17-F-0004 Jackson, Brian - Mail 10/3/2016 - - I request a copy of any available documents related to Army Intelligence's participation in an FBI counterintelligence source operation beginning in about 1959, per David Wise book, "Cassidy's Run," under the following code names: ZYRKSEEZ SHOCKER I am also interested in obtaining Army Intelligence documents authorizing, as well as policy documents guiding, the use of an Army source in an FBI operation.
    [Show full text]
  • BTEA Takes Part in Berlin Convention
    8 BUSINESS Friday, March 9, 2018 High-level White House departures hite House chief economic advisor Gary Cohn has resigned joining a string of recent departures by BTEA takes part in Whigh-level personnel and further fuelling concerns that the Trump administration is in chaos. The Trump Administration has seen the highest rate of turnover among White House staff in decades, according to the Brookings Institution. Team Trump saw a 34 percent turnover rate during the Berlin convention president’s first year. The next-highest turnover rate for an administration’s first year was Ronald Reagan’s, with 17% of senior aides leaving their posts in 1981. Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton saw much lower turnovers during their first year in office -- 9%, 6%, and 11%, respectively. This time last year, Reince Priebus was still chief of staff, Sean Spicer was still press secretary, and Stephen Bannon was probably the second most powerful man in America. The Brookings report that tracked departures of senior officials Hoverigh-level the last 40White years Houseconcludes departures that only five of the 12White positions House chiefconsidered economic most advisor central Gary Cohnto the has president resigned, joiningare still filleda string by of the recent same departures people by as high-level when the personnel president and further took office.fuelling concerns that the Trump administration is in chaos 2 3 4 6 5 1 7 8 Team Trump is sworn in, January 22, 2017 Gary D. Cohn. Chief economic adviser: Bahrain’s delegation is headed by Chief Executive Officer of BTEA, Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa Free trade advocate and former Goldman Sachs Manama focus to further boost the president quits after losing battle over Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium he Bahrain Tourism and strength of the local tourism Resigned, Mar 6, 2018 – 411 days in office TExhibitions Authority sector and drive in visitors 1 Reince Priebus.
    [Show full text]
  • Regulation of Lawyers in Government Beyond the Representation Role
    Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University Scholarly Commons at Hofstra Law Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship 2019 Regulation of Lawyers in Government Beyond the Representation Role Ellen Yaroshefsky Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.hofstra.edu/faculty_scholarship Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Ellen Yaroshefsky, Regulation of Lawyers in Government Beyond the Representation Role, 33 NOTRE DAME J. L. ETHICS & PUB. POL’Y 151 (2019) Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.hofstra.edu/faculty_scholarship/1257 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarly Commons at Hofstra Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons at Hofstra Law. For more information, please contact [email protected]. REGULATION OF LAWYERS IN GOVERNMENT BEYOND THE CLIENT REPRESENTATION ROLE ELLEN YAROSHEFSKY* INTRODUCTION In February 2017, fifteen legal ethicists filed a complaint against Kellyanne Conway, Senior Counselor to the President,' alleging that a number of her pub- lic statements were intentional misrepresentations. The complaint filed in the District of Columbia, one of the two jurisdictions where Ms. Conway is admitted to practice, acknowledged that there are limited circumstances in which lawyers who do not act in a representational capacity are, and should be, subject to the anti-deceit disciplinary rules.2 The complaint stated: As Rule 8.4(c) states, "It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to [elngage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation." This is an admittedly broad rule, as it includes conduct outside the practice of law and, unlike 8.4(b), the conduct need not be criminal.
    [Show full text]
  • Trump Staff Turnover to That of Previous Presidents
    Democracy Dies in Darkness Analysis Trump sets a record for White House staff turnover in the first year BY KATHRYN DUNN TENPAS JANUARY 16, 2018 President Trump set a record for White House staff turnover in the first year. Here's an ongoing list of staff who have quit or been fired under trump. (Joyce Koh/Washington Post) Every new president loses top staff during the administration’s first year in office. Political scientists have long noted that the skills needed to campaign are strikingly different from those needed to govern. And adjusting to Washington, D.C., norms — and the press scrutiny that comes with presidential power — has a steep learning curve, especially for those without government experience. Compared to President Trump’s five predecessors, however, the Trump White House has seen a record level of staff turnover amid truly unusual circumstances. Here’s what we can conclude about White House turnover during Trump’s first year in office. This is how I measured top-level staff turnover Between 1981 and 2015, National Journal writers compiled lists of presidential staffers deemed to be the most influential working within the executive office of the president and the White House for each presidential administration, with one each in 1981, 1989, 1993, 2001 and 2009 for a total of five. 1 Democracy Dies in Darkness Let’s call these top staffers the “A Team.” I used use the old National Journal lists to compare Trump staff turnover to that of previous presidents. (Note: These are in print, not online.) To generate the Trump A Team, I worked with Bloomberg Law journalist Madison Alder to record every job title from those five National Journal editions and determine the frequency with which each job title occurred.
    [Show full text]
  • Tinitcd ~Tatrs ~Rnatr BOSTON, MA 02203 HEALTH
    ELIZABETH WARREN UNITED STATES SENATE MASSACHUSETIS WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2105 p 202- 224-4543 COMMITTEES 2400 JFK FEDERAL BUILDING BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS 15 NEW SUDBURY STREET tinitcd ~tatrs ~rnatr BOSTON, MA 02203 HEALTH. EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS P: 617- 565-3170 ARMED SERVICES 1550 MAIN STREET SUITE 406 SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING SPRINGFIELD, MA01103 P: 413-788-2690 www.warren.senate.gov December 4, 2017 The Honorable John F. Kelly Chief of Staff The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear General Kelly, I am writing today to seek clarification on Kellyanne Conway's role in leading the White House's efforts to fight the opioid epidemic. Earlier this week, at a Department of Justice press conference announcing "stepped up efforts to address the drug and opioid crisis,"1 Attorney General Sessions stated that the President has "asked [Conway] to coordinate and lead the effort [to combat the opioid crisis] from the White House." He also described Conway's '"total access" to the President on this issue and said he believed "her appointment represents a very significant commitment from the President himself and his White House."2 Attorney General Sessions also said Ms. Conway "is exceedingly talented," and "understands messaging." 3 According to a report by CBS news, the White House later stated that her role was "not expanding and opioids has always been part of her policy portfolio,"4 after multiple news outlets reported that she would be the White House's "drug czar."5 As you know, the opioid epidemic is one of the most important public health matters facing our country.
    [Show full text]
  • Putin, Trump and Democracy's Slippery Slope Toward Oligarchy
    Putin, Trump and Democracy’s Slippery Slope Toward Oligarchy Acknowledgments The Common Cause Education Fund is the research and public education affiliate of Common Cause, founded in 1970 by John Gardner. Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process. This report was produced with the support of small dollar contributions from Americans who believe in transparent, open, and accountable govern- ment, as well as generous grants from the WhyNot Initiative and the Philip & Janice Levin Foundation. It was written by Joe Maschman, a Common Cause legal fellow, and edited by Paul Seamus Ryan, vice president for policy and litigation; Scott Swenson, vice president for communications, Susannah Goodman, director of voting integrity; and Dale Eisman, senior writer/editor. The authors and editors wish to express our thanks to Kerstin Diehn for her design and to Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn for her guidance and encouragement in the preparation of this report. Introduction Americans are more united than those who benefit from division want us to believe. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents largely agree that registration and voting should be secure, modern, and convenient, and that all eligible people should be encouraged to vote. As voters, we recognize that the more people who participate in our elections, the better it is for our democracy, making it more likely that the representatives who are elected will listen to the people.
    [Show full text]
  • PR Front Row Trump Show
    Publication Date: March 31, 2020 Publicity Contact: Price: $28.00 Amanda Walker, 212-366-2212 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [email protected] NOW A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “Jonathan Karl is a straight-shooting, fair-minded, and hardworking professional so it’s no surprise he’s produced a book historians will relish.”—Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal FRONT ROW AT THE TRUMP SHOW Jonathan Karl Chief White House Correspondent for ABC News EARLY PRAISE FOR FRONT ROW AT THE TRUMP SHOW “Jon Karl is fierce, fearless, and fair. He knows the man, and the office. Front Row at the Trump Show takes us inside the daily challenge of truthful reporting on the Trump WH, revealing what’s at stake with vivid detail and deep insights.” —George Stephanopoulos "In this revealing and personal account of his relationship with our 45th president, we learn what it is really like to be on the White House beat, about the peculiarities of dealing with the personality in the Oval Office, and ultimately the risks and dangers we face at this singular moment in American history." —Mike McCurry, former White House press secretary “No reporter has covered Donald Trump longer and with more energy than Jonathan Karl. It pays off in his account of what he calls the Trump Show with some startling scoops.”—Susan Page, Washington bureau chief, USA Today “The Constitution is strict: It says we must have presidents. Fortunately, we occasionally have reporters as talented as Jonathan Karl—an acute observer and gifted writer—to record what presidents do. Karl is exactly the right journalist to chronicle the 45th president, who is more—to be polite—exotic than his predecessors.” —George F.
    [Show full text]
  • Trump Administration Key Policy Personnel Updated: February 5, 2017 Positions NOT Subject to Senate Confirmation in Italics ______
    Trump Administration Key Policy Personnel Updated: February 5, 2017 Positions NOT subject to Senate confirmation in italics ______________________________________________________________________________________________ White House Chief of Staff: Reince Priebus Priebus is the former Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC). He previously worked as chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. He has a long history in Republican politics as a grassroots volunteer. He worked his way up through the ranks of the Republican Party of Wisconsin as 1st Congressional District Chairman, State Party Treasurer, First Vice Chair, and eventually State Party Chairman. In 2009, he served as General Counsel to the RNC, a role in which he volunteered his time. White House Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor: Stephen Bannon Bannon worked as the campaign CEO for Trump’s presidential campaign. He is the Executive Chairman of Breitbart News Network, LLC and the Chief Executive Officer of American Vantage Media Corporation and Affinity Media. Mr. Bannon is also a Partner of Societe Gererale, a talent management company in the entertainment business. He has served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Genius Products, Inc. since February 2005. Attorney General: Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) Sen. Sessions began his legal career as a practicing attorney in Russellville, Alabama, and then in Mobile. Following a two- year stint as Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, Sessions was nominated by President Reagan in 1981 and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the United States Attorney for Alabama’s Southern District, a position he held for 12 years. Sessions was elected Alabama Attorney General in 1995, serving as the state’s chief legal officer until 1997, when he entered the United States Senate.
    [Show full text]