James Comey (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
A Skadden lawyer has actually been indicted by Robert Mueller because of his connections to Paul Manafort and his shady dealings. Skadden associate Alex van der Zwaan pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I. Greg Craig, a Skadden partner, abruptly retired likely because of his involvement with the same Manafort-related scheme.
Skadden has been in the barrel… so it seems odd that the firm would take on former F.B.I. Director James Comey as a client. I mean, Comey isn’t really involved in any of the issues that have gotten other Skadden lawyers in trouble. But, man, it’s weird to see a firm that has been burned by the Russia investigation represent the man who started it all.
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Maybe that’s why the story being pushed out isn’t “Skadden represents Comey,” it’s “Pat Fitzgerald happens to have an office at Skadden and represents his total bestie, James Comey.” From AmLaw:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom partner Patrick Fitzgerald has been representing one of his best friends, James Comey, since he was ousted as FBI director last year by President Donald Trump, according to news reports.
The representation, first reported by Talking Points Memo, pairs Fitzgerald with a client whom he described as “one of my best friends” in an interview with The American Lawyer published just six days before Comey’s firing. Since that time, Fitzgerald has declined to comment about Comey’s time in the political spotlight. He did not immediately return a request for comment for this story.
The story says Fitzgerald has been part of the team representing Comey since Comey was fired in May of 2017. Comey just let that representation slip during one of his signings on his book tour that I assume is titled “If I Did Kill Hillary Clinton, Here’s How.”
Look, Fitzgerald is a big-time former prosecutor, the men are friends, there’s nothing the slightest bit wrong about the representation.
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It’s just… noteworthy. The firm already has lawyers in the muck with Manafort. Going for “both sides” was a little bit surprising.
Skadden’s Pat Fitzgerald Representing ‘Best Friend’ Jim Comey [American Lawyer]
Elie Mystal is the Executive Editor of Above the Law and the Legal Editor for More Perfect. He can be reached @ElieNYC on Twitter, or at [email protected]. He will resist.