Posted on 10/15/2010 11:45:07 AM PDT by Justaham
Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel (N.Y.), who faces an ethics trial next month, has parted ways with his lead defense attorneys in the case, according to several sources familiar with the matter.
It is unclear what, if any, impact this will have on the Rangel trial, which is scheduled to begin on Nov. 15. It is also not clear whether Rangel decided to get rid of his attorneys or if they left of their own volition.
Rangel has been represented by the law firm Zuckerman Spaeder for the last two years as the ethics scandal surrounding the New York Democrat grew in size and scope. Leslie Kiernan, a well-respected white collar criminal expert at Zuckerman Spaeder, has headed up his legal team. Rangel has paid the firm more than $1.4 million since the ethics investigation began in mid-2008, according to Federal Election Commission records. Lawmakers are allowed to use campaign funds to cover attorneys’ fees in cases related to their official duties. Overall, Rangel has publicly stated that he has spent “close to $2 million” to cover his legal bills.
The offices of Zuckerman Spaeder and Rangel’s office would comment for this article.
The House ethics committee also declined to comment on this latest development or whether Rangel’s move will have an impact on the schedule for the trial.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
When your lawyer bails, it’s deep doo doo time.............
No need for him to pay a lawyer. Ethics Committee will “slap him on the wrist” and send him on his merry way.
How could Charlie have an ethics lawyer when he never had any ethics?
Perhaps Rangel will try to get Geert Wilder’s prosecutors for his big day.
That is just so incredibly sad....I feel so sorry for Charlie....
Riiight!
Buwahahahahahha!
I hope you rot in jail, Charlie!
Who knew?
Apparantly there actually are some things so filthy that a lawyer won’t touch them!
Delay tactic.
My guess is the lawyer wanted to cut a deal, and Charlie refused...............
Hell no. Charlie stopped paying, and these guys are too crooked to trust Charlies' IOUs.
Maybe the lawyer has good reason to believe he ain’t going to get paid.
Yup. Smart money bet, that one...
Delaying tactic.
“Melanin-based impenetrable corruption prosecution shield”
Totally agree. Then he’ll insist that it will take him sometime to get a new lawyer. What an a$$hole!
Isn’t it defeating the purpose of an ethics trial to have lawyers present?
Surprised it took eight posts to state the obvious.
I thought his law firm was Dewey, Cheatem, and How!
“When your lawyer bails, it’s deep doo doo time.............”
No, I believe that’s a way to actually push hearings off further down the road. He can play this game for a long, long time.
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