OMG: The Akin Gump Escort Worked For… Monica Goodling’s Lawyer!!!
Here are two quick updates to our earlier coverage of Akin Gump, the prestigious D.C. law firm, where an assistant to alleged D.C. madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey worked as a legal secretary. The second of these updates is nothing short of mind-blowing.
1. As a commenter pointed out, Tom Goldstein, the head of Akin Gump’s Supreme Court practice, just posted an “opening” for a “special assistant.” This led some to wonder: Could the madam-in-training have worked for the Supreme Court superstar?
It wouldn’t be THAT suprising. The job announcement (PDF) mentions that an appreciation for poker is helpful. And we’re guessing that the secretary-cum-escort has some familiarity with that game — or a certain variant thereof.
Sadly, however, it turns out that there is no relation between these two events. According to a source at the firm, “this opening is completely unrelated to that situation..”
2. We believe our source. We’ve learned that the Akin Gump temptress worked for someone even more senior at the firm — and even more powerful.
We have confirmed, with knowledgeable sources, what was previously rumored in reader comments. The Akin Gump Escort worked for John M. Dowd, the high-powered head of the firm’s criminal litigation group. From his firm bio:
Mr. Dowd has prosecuted and defended significant criminal matters at trial and in parallel proceedings before Congress and regulatory agencies for more than 30 years. His practice focuses on the trial of complex civil and criminal cases.
Mr. Dowd is noted for his representation of a U.S. district judge, a former U.S. attorney and two U.S. senators. In addition, he represented a U.S. governor in a lengthy, high-profile criminal trial involving 23 counts charging false statements, wire fraud and attempted extortion.
A judge, a U.S. attorney, some senators? YAWN. John Dowd currently represents one of Above the Law’s favorite celebrities: MONICA GOODLING!!!
Does this mean that telephone and/or face-to-face conversations took place between (1) the Magnificent Monica Goodling, of U.S. Attorneygate fame, and (2) the Akin Gump Escort? Presumably Monica Goodling had to interact with the Akin Gump Escort, whenever she called John Dowd on the phone, or came to his office for a meeting.
Please excuse us for a moment. Our head is about to explode, due to fabulosity overload!!!
More discussion, after the jump.
We emailed Mr. Dowd to confirm that the (alleged) Akin Gump Assistant Madam worked as his secretary. We didn’t receive a response from him. But a few hours later, we were contacted by a firm spokesperson:
Per your query, I write to advise that this is an internal personnel matter, and as such we will not provide comment. Going forward, please feel free to contact me with any questions.Kind Regards,
Sheila M. Turner
Director of Communications
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
So no official confirmation from the firm. But we are satisfied with the confirmations we’ve received from other sources. We previously predicted that the Akin Gump Assistant Madam “had a powerful boss at the firm” — and it looks like we were right.
Happily for her, Dowd is a legendary criminal defense lawyer. We’re guessing that he has referred her to an esteemed colleague in the defense bar, to represent her as she shares what she knows with law enforcement.
So there’s no need to lose sleep over her plight. The Akin Gump Madam is in good hands!
Job Opening: Special Assistant to Tom Goldstein [SCOTUSblog]
John M. Dowd bio [Akin Gump]
Earlier: Akin Gump: Truly A ‘Full-Service’ Law Firm
The D.C. Madam’s Akin Gump Apprentice: She’s No Miss Popularity
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Comments
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incidentally, that is a seriously fantastic job opportunity for somebody thinking of law school
FRIGGIN AWESOME! Dowd is almost as cool as Goodling now... MORE ON THIS LAT!!!
BTW - you realize Dowd is Goodling's Attorney, right LAT???? That's the big story here!
OMG, Dowd represents Monica Goodling. This is the best news ever!!!
ATL worlds are colliding!!!
maybe Goodling could get her a job in one of the USA offices run by an interim appointee.
Only way to top this news is to complete the circle with evidence that Goodling or Dowd were clients of Ms. Palfrey.
4:15 - imagine if there were a Shanetta or Charney connection!
maybe monica goodling can replace the deposed legal secretary- her regent university diploma almost qualifies her
Just further evidence of my earlier claim that Lat has somehow rigged the entire legal world for our amusement.
"Our head is about to explode, due to fabulosity overload!!!"
LAT, I didn't know you were a poet. Nice couplet.
Note that this is the Dowd of the famous Dowd Report, which was the report of the investigation that got Pete Rose banned from baseball.
4:24: LOL!!! That's not a bad idea actually.
Great coverage, but I think your use of the royal "we" is becoming a little annoying. Why not just use the first person singular?
4:48 --
Interesting point, but your suggestion re: royal "we" is a little bit like telling the sun that the whole "rises in the East" thing is getting old.
I don't think he's gonna listen.
5:46 - glad you explained that simile - I was confused!
When did you make the earlier claim about Lat rigging the legal world? Why did you make that claim? That was probably the dorkiest thing written ever on a weblog.
Somebody who has a wikipedia password - update the entry for "dork" to include that quote as the dorkiest weblog quote ever.
First Cravath gets hit with scandal, then S&C, now Akin. Who's next? When is the other shoe going to drop? Where? Davis? Simpson?
Who's taking odds?
4:24 - where did you hear the secretary was deposed? In what kind of proeceeding? The DOJ can't get depositions...was there a lawsuit over this? Sounds like this story is just getting good.
You're an ass. Where'd you get your degree from? You're probably unemployed or working for that crazy ALJ suing the cleaners for 65 mil.
Her Regents degree obviously helped her get into high places.
Loser.
Oh Lat - you're so cool! Your rule, dude! Hey peeps - everyone read ATL this morning? OMG, Lat rules!
KFU is a nerd. KFU - come forth and tells us who should be shamed for employing you?
6:54 - When your being hired not for your qualifications, but for your lack of them, then a Regents degree is actually quite useful.
Otherwise, not so much...
With this kind of juice, can Shirlington Limo, DHS, Foggo, Watergate poker games be far behind?
Two words: Mark Groff!
Who is that? What does that mean?
Being so high-powered, Mr. Dowd must be pretty high-priced. Hmmm, how is Ms. Goodling paying for this high-powered, high-priced attorney? Or maybe Mr. Dowd is doing it pro bono, like many of the attorneys are doing for the GITMO detainees?
Who is Mark Groff?
It's all connected. The President, Barney, the RNC, Rove, and the Chamber Maid. More twists than a David Brokenheimer [sp] movie.
Speaking of Rose and baseball analogies, is it possible Justice Roberts is in the middle of this? [Oh, did I say that? . . .]
Perhaps Mr. Dowd doing it pro boner
This is the best post ever! I LOVE ABOVETHELAW
This is the best post ever! I LOVE ABOVETHELAW.
signed,
an S&C guy who does not bend over
I think Mark Groff is the DC lawyer persecuting Jessica Cutlar, aka Washingtonienne.
9:54 - what makes you say that? Don't think so.
Yeah, I was totally wrong about that. Sorry.
I used to work at AGSH&F. Unfortunately, it was a horrible point in my life... I know just who the person in question is... and she's not very nice!
Song of Deborah
...They chose new gods; then was war in the gates.. Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song.. the LORD made you have dominion over the mighty... Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of justice against the mighty... Have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two? So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD.. And the land rest forty years. Judges 5.
Deborah Palfrey deserves the Pemberton Award for Clean Governance.
Palfrey list is like the Black Book of 1918.
That Trial of the century is deleted from all books.
The list there had 47000 names.
The list here has 46000 phone bills.
The listed are not womenizers, machos or ordinary sinners.
They are power brokers, gay lutheran shock and awe blitzkrieg agitators of all wars and all panics.
These wretches are one dirty cover to the real pimps deep undercover.
A curse on the kingpinps, Justice Charles Darling then and Judge Adolph Limbough Kessler now.
Noel Pemberton-Billing
Trial of the Century 1918