Is Marc Kasowitz Drunk On His Own Power?

Just because you can call the "Predisent" a client, doesn't mean you get to say this.

(Photo by Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo by Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

Predisent” Trump’s personal lawyer Marc Kasowitz is advising White House staff that they don’t need to hire their own lawyers.

It’s hard to overstate how inappropriate this is.

Technically, the New York Times report sourced by multiple anonymous White House sources said that Kasowitz informed “aides gathered in one meeting” who asked about hiring their own attorneys that “it was not yet necessary.” I’m sure that’s what a lot of lawyers would like to tell potential witnesses against their clients. Because, of course, once they get their own lawyers, Kasowitz can’t talk to them directly.

For the record, the appropriate response is, “I’m not your attorney and cannot tell you whether or not you need your own lawyer.” Even if Kasowitz tries to spin it as “I never said they couldn’t get their own lawyers,” the way these sources claim he spoke about it sounds like he left them with the impression that they were being instructed that they shouldn’t hire their own lawyers — something that would naturally flow from an attorney taking on airs that being Trump’s private lawyer makes him an official government lawyer, which he’s not.

By the way, everyone in the White House needs their own lawyer — as any former White House staffer would tell you.

“The president’s private lawyer is representing only his interests, not the interests of the United States government or the individual interests of the White House staff,” said Robert F. Bauer, who was White House counsel under President Barack Obama.

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Hell, regardless of his answer, why is he fielding questions from staff at a meeting? According to one of the NYT’s sources, these meetings “bypassed the White House Counsel’s Office,” which makes you wonder how little self-respect Don McGahn must have to stay in a job where’s he’s treated like this.

McGahn doesn’t need this garbage — he has a rock band!

A spokesman for Mr. Kasowitz called the characterizations of his conversations with staff members “inaccurate,” but would not specify how.

Sometimes a story throws in a little something that requires that little extra effort from the reader. When the reporters say “would not specify how,” that means they asked the spokesperson a follow up and got no response. They took the time to call out the superficial denial and found…

Nothing underneath it.

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Role of Trump’s Personal Lawyer Blurs Public and Private Lines [New York Times]

Earlier: Marc Kasowitz Takes Break From Partying At Trump Hotel To Talk To The Press


HeadshotJoe Patrice is an editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news.