Morgan Lewis Fired By Investment Fund For Giving Legal Advice To Trump
Apr 05, 2017 01:30 PM EDT
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius has been fired by an investment fund for giving legal advice on financial conflicts to President Donald Trump. Tax records show that more than $77,000 fund was paid to Morgan Lewis in the recent fiscal year.
In a Mar. 28 letter, co-chair of the Wallace Global Fund, H. Scott Wallace, announced to the law firm of his decision, according to the National Law Journal. The letter reiterated on Morgan Lewis partner Sheri Dillon's appearance at a press conference in January to explain ways Trump can deal with legal conflicts, which includes placing his assets in a trust and delegating control over his business to his two grown sons.
The letter claims that Dillon's advice "empowers and even encourages impeachable offenses and undetectable financial conflicts of interest by America's highest official, and thus is an unprecedented invitation to corruption and an assault on our democracy." Wallace called it an "ethical carnage" that has already occurred.
Several examples over the allegation on Morgan Lewis were stated in the letter, some of which includes Trump's hotel hiring of diplomatic sales director in Washington, D.C. to attract business from foreign governments. In fact, his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida has seen a healthy growth, and China granted him with 38 trademarks after he reversed course and supported a one-China policy.
Wallace wrote saying it is obvious Trump is using his office for personal motives. "And Morgan Lewis is enabling and legitimizing this. The idea of a 'trust' run by Trump's sons is a fig leaf," he said.
Meanwhile, Morgan Lewis refused to comment on the issue. Philly.com highlights that the law firm resembles a bipartisan firm with both Republicans and Democrats in senior positions as Morgan Lewis has a record of carrying out litigations seeking to advocate for same-sex marriage, overturn death-penalty convictions, and sustain immigrant rights.
