The 65 Project, a dark-money leftist organization, is back at it again—setting its crosshairs on the attorneys representing former President Donald Trump. What’s their mission? To scare off any lawyers brave enough to defend Trump’s legal rights. Up until about 5 minutes ago, a lawyer’s job was to represent their client rigorously. Rudy Giuliani was disbarred for doing that when he tried to uphold election integrity after the 2020 election was stolen.
Known for their relentless pursuit of lawyers connected to Trump’s 2020 election challenges, they’re now leveling threats against any prospective lawyers who might consider joining Trump’s legal team.
And what’s their not-so-subtle warning? Join Trump’s legal team and you could end up disbarred. WT*?
A Direct Threat to Trump’s Future Lawyers
The message is straightforward and chilling: “Don’t let partisan politics endanger your standing with the bar. The Porter Wright Partners face ethics complaints over Trump campaign post-election work. Don’t risk your law license by joining an effort to subvert democracy. We–and the public—are watching,” reads an ad posted by The 65 Project on Instagram.
Think about that for a moment. It’s not even a cautionary tale—it’s an out-and-out threat designed to strike fear into the hearts of any legal professionals who might consider standing up for Trump. This specific warning refers to Porter Wright, a law firm that represented Trump during his post-election litigation in Pennsylvania back in 2020. As the pressure mounted, the firm’s attorneys, Ronald Hicks, and Carolyn McGee, withdrew just days after the November election. Many described their sudden exit as a capitulation to a relentless intimidation campaign.
The 65 Project’s Own Brand of “Ethics Complaints”
And guess who filed those so-called “ethics complaints” against Hicks and McGee? That’s right—The 65 Project themselves. In 2022, after the attorneys had already stepped away from Trump’s case, the group decided to pile on even more by filing complaints against both lawyers. What’s more baffling is that the Pennsylvania Office of Disciplinary Counsel hasn’t taken any disciplinary action against them. Hmm, one might wonder if the whole thing was a scare tactic, pure and simple.
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELSo, Who’s Really Behind The 65 Project?
The 65 Project got its start with a little help from David Brock, a close ally of Hillary Clinton and the same guy behind organizations like Media Matters. Brock wrote the book, The Real Anita Hill. It was a great book that exposed a group of libnuts who coerced Hill into filing an allegedly fraudulent complaint about Clarence Thomas during his Supreme Court nomination hearing. Brock must have caught a lot of flak for that because he then went to the dark side and has been a Looney Tunes leftie ever since. No surprise there, right?
They don’t disclose their donors (shocker!), but, as Axios found in an investigation, they have “ties to Democratic Party heavyweights.” This group is loaded, well-connected, and laser-focused on keeping Trump legally cornered, using every trick in the book—from filing complaints and releasing ominous ads to publicizing vague “ethical concerns.”
But let’s be real—their objective goes way beyond holding attorneys accountable. The 65 Project’s “ongoing efforts to prosecute, disbar, and smear attorneys who served as election lawyers for President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign could leave Republicans short of legal talent for the election fight in November 2024.” Yes, you read that right. This isn’t about upholding justice—it’s about crippling Trump’s legal support and sabotaging the GOP’s election strategies.
Is This About Ethics—or Straight-Up Intimidation?
The American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct state that “A lawyer should use the law’s procedures only for legitimate purposes and not to harass or intimidate others.” Seems pretty straightforward, doesn’t it? Yet, The 65 Project claims they’re merely trying to uphold ethical standards. But when you look at their actual behavior, it’s more like a campaign to bully legal professionals into submission and keep them from providing representation to their clients.
And let’s not forget the constitutional dimension here. The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right “to have the Assistance of Counsel” in criminal proceedings. Trump is currently facing several criminal charges—making this right even more crucial. So, are lawyers willing to step up and defend him, or will they be scared off by The 65 Project’s blatant intimidation tactics?
The Chilling Effect on Trump’s Legal Strategy—and Beyond
With the 2024 presidential election looming, The 65 Project’s shenanigans could have far-reaching consequences. If they scare off enough lawyers, Trump’s current legal battles—and his ability to form an effective legal strategy—could be severely impacted. This is about more than just one man’s defense—it’s about his entire campaign’s viability in the face of potential election disputes.
The 65 Project’s targeting could frighten away lawyers with the talent to do the job for election integrity, leaving Republicans in the wind when it comes to a legal fight in November. If this group manages to pull that off, it’ll not only make it harder for the GOP to challenge election results, but it could also significantly alter the legal landscape for future politically charged cases.
What’s the Broader Impact on the Legal Profession?
And let’s think bigger here—if lawyers begin to see politically charged cases as career suicide, we might be looking at a much larger problem. Attorneys could become reluctant to take on any case with political ramifications, regardless of their personal beliefs or the actual merits of the case. Who wants to be the next lawyer dragged through the mud for doing their job?
And we know that leftists never stop attacking just their original target. They spread the hate to other groups and individuals. For example, could they target lawyers they don’t want representing victims of violent illegal immigrants? What about criminals let loose because of no bail laws and commit more crimes? This type of terroristic behavior could upend our society.
Ultimately, if The 65 Project’s intimidation tactics work, it sets a precedent that undermines the very foundation of the legal system. Everyone—no matter where they stand politically—deserves a fair chance at legal representation. Isn’t that supposed to be one of the bedrocks of our democracy?
Legal Intimidation Masquerading as Oversight?
While The 65 Project continues to insist that they’re just upholding ethical standards, critics see right through it. By targeting lawyers connected to Trump, they’ve turned the ethics complaint process into a weapon to silence those willing to challenge the political status quo.
The broader legal community will have to grapple with these tactics and consider what it means for the profession going forward. As for Trump, his biggest challenge might not be winning in the courtroom, but simply finding lawyers who aren’t afraid to stand by him amidst the storm The 65 Project has stirred up.
This is private sector lawfare, plain and simple. It should be illegal because it borders on terroristic threats. If nothing else, it is blatant election interference because if a candidate runs their campaign believing they will be legally punished for violating no laws, then it hampers the candidate’s ability to run their campaign the way they want.
#LegalIntimidation #2024Election #TrumpDefense
