Pentagon Official’s Anti-American Charges Hit Cheney Aide’s Law FirmSo, a senior Pentagon official is calling for a boycott of all law firms who aid Guantanamo prisoners. The call has been repeated by conservative talk show hosts.
Funny thing: among the practices working for accused terrorists is New York firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. The lead lawyer for former Cheney aide Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s defense team is a Paul Weiss man. Who knew? (Probably not Charles D. Stimson, the Pentagon official whose comments have now been officially disavowed by the Defense Department.)
Paul Weiss’ lawyers weren’t just on the sidelines of the Guantanamo issue; they achieved some notable victories in changing conditions at the prison, and have even traveled to the Middle East to meet with the detainees’ families.
As it happens, Libby’s case heads to trial on Monday. Who, pray tell, will be the Pentagon official to demand Libby give up his lead defender — immediately? Who will be the first radio talk show host to denounce Cheney’s former chief of staff as an aider and abettor of terrorism?