Legal group targets Trump lawyers to silence conservatives
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A Democratic initiative launched in 2022, known as the 65 Project, has systematically targeted attorneys who represented Trump supporters in election challenges, aiming to discourage legal professionals from taking on conservative clients.
The organization, conceived by former Clinton administration official Melissa Moss and guided by Media Matters founder David Brock, has filed over 85 bar complaints against prominent attorneys, including Alan Dershowitz and John Eastman.
Ray Epps’ lawyer, Michael Teter, runs the 65 Project, which—according to their website—works to punish lawyers who “subvert democracy”.
One of Teter’s allies in this is David Brock, a major operative for the Democratic Party. pic.twitter.com/SexPjQipZN
— Truth In Media (@Truth_InMedia) December 26, 2023
The group’s actions have sparked controversy within the legal community. Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz told USA Today, “It’s a tactic. People will not take on Trump-related cases. That’s the intention, and that’s the result.”
Attorney Harry MacDougald, who faced accusations from the group, shared his experience with Blaze News: “Yes, they did file a flagrantly and maliciously false bar complaint against me, which resulted in false and defamatory publicity against me.”
The initiative’s aggressive approach has raised concerns about access to legal representation. David Brock openly acknowledged their strategy, telling Axios, “I think the littler fish are probably more vulnerable to what we’re doing. You’re threatening their livelihood.”
The campaign’s effects are already visible. Michigan attorney Daniel Hartman, another target, revealed that many colleagues now avoid election law cases, citing personal and professional risks.
The “65 Project,” which targets Trump attorneys for abuse, is now threatening any POTENTIAL Trump lawyers with losing their law licenses if they work for him. This is worthy of a lawsuit in itself, as well as a Bar complaint, and it’s arguably a violation of the Sixth Amendment. pic.twitter.com/lucuWGX8Io
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) October 11, 2024
However, recent developments suggest potential pushback. America First Legal, led by Stephen Miller, has countered with bar complaints against the 65 Project’s managing director and former Jan. 6 committee member Liz Cheney, indicating possible escalation in this legal battlefield.
Legal experts, including Fordham Law School professor Bruce Green, have expressed concerns about the public nature of these actions, suggesting they might discourage lawyers from engaging in legitimate political work, fearing misrepresentation and public humiliation.
