Holder's Conflict of Interest

New York Post ^ | February 26, 2009 | Gordon Cucullu

[Sergeant Tim]

Holder's previous job, after all, was as a senior partner with Covington and Burling - a white-shoe DC law firm that devotes considerable pro bono time to defending the Gitmo detainees. The job paid $2 million a year, and he expects to collect a like amount this year as part of his separation package.

As a senior partner, he undoubtedly had significant input on what kind of charity cases his firm picked up. He surely knew that dozens of lawyers from from his firm were among the 500-plus civilian lawyers representing the 244 or so remaining detainees (on top of military-court-appointed defenders).

[Sergeant Tim]

Gordon Cucullu, a former Army lieutenant colonel, is author of "Inside Gitmo: The True Story Behind the Myths of Guantanamo Bay." His website, InsideGitmo.com is a great resource. Each of the 500+ footnotes in his book are neatly organized, cited, and linked (when applicable). In addition, there is the latest Gitmo-related news, a discussion forum, notification of upcoming appearances, and his blog.

Full disclosure: I post this information for solely that, your information. I have read his book, assess it to be excellent, and believe Gitmo should be kept open. I have not and will never accept compensation in this regard or for anything even remotely related to 9/11.

[Sergeant Tim]

Ping!

[Frantzie]

Who paid for this fake “pro bono” work for Gitmo detainees? Ahhh...the Saudis?

[Sergeant Tim]

Or the Yemeni's, as Covington and Burling represented them is fine fashion.

Click on the image to view the story behind it (no worries, it is G-rated).

[oyez]

Such vile stench emanating from Washington, these days.

[madinmadtown]

I know that some of these law firms took those cases as pro bono cases, but ended up being paid very handsomely for their “pro bono” efforts. In fact, one of these “pro bono” hardship cases became the most lucrative client of one firm. The money behind the gitmo detainees was not from the US and my guess is that that same money put BO in the position he is in now.

[Sergeant Tim]

"I know that some of these law firms took those cases as pro bono cases..."

More than some profited. A good many of the ones not directly paid for defending those at Gitmo have offices in the Middle East; their represntation of clients there includes 9/11 related lawsuits, sharia financing, and oil companies.

[LucyJo]

I can’t read this stuff without becoming sick to my stomach. The more we learn, the more every criticism of this administration sounds like understatement.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[Who paid for this fake “pro bono” work for Gitmo detainees? Ahhh...the Saudis?]

Quite likely.

From Covington & Burling Law Offices website:

“Covington has long recognized the growing importance of providing high quality legal services in and to the Middle East region. For more than a decade, our international practice has been handling matters from the region and deepening existing relationships while cultivating new ones,” said Timothy Hester, chair of Covington’s management committee. “This alliance with Institution Quraysh will allow us to adopt a more coordinated approach to expanding our work in the region and to meeting client needs in and from the Middle East.”

http://www.cov.com/news/detail.aspx?news=1374

[Frantzie]

Yup - all the big law firms in London are owned by the Saudis. Obama was elected with Saudi money. We are to be energy serfs even though the USA has 4 times the Saudis reserves.