March 20, 2006, 8:30 am
NY Criminal Defense Lawyer Faces Death Threats: “It’s Like Fighting Ghosts”
Posted by Peter Lattman
New York criminal defense lawyer Thomas Liotti is known for his blunt criticism of judges and prosecutors, as well as taking on some of the most dangerous alleged criminals as clients. Last week, reports the New York Times, he took the unusual step of issuing a press release criticizing the federal Drug Enforcement Agency for what he said was a tepid response to a death threat against him and other lawyers who defend Colombian drug traffickers.
The threat came from an anonymous letter from Colombia that named 22 lawyers, 7 in New York and 15 in Colombia. The letter said any American lawyer found in Colombia would be “captured and executed.” Then, a memo circulated that allegedly came from inside a Colombia prison. The memo rated, Zagat-style, U.S. lawyers who represent drug dealers.
Says Liotti: “I think I won the prize for the most derogatory evaluation.” Next to his name, it reportedly said: “Incompetente, Desleal, Mentiroso, Traidor, Sin Excrupulos” incompetent, disloyal, liar, traitor, without scruples. “Who knows why this threat was made?” Liotti told the Times. “There are just rumors out there, and you never know what the plots and subplots are. It’s like fighting ghosts.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn said, “We do take these cases very seriously.”
Well now---that explains it.
Guy wants illegals licensed to facilitate clients' drug delivery businesses. Drug lords with cars would be faster than bicycles.....and cars have trunks for the really big drug deals.
If this was rating defense lawyers for drug dealers it sounds more like an endorsement than a threat.