All the Presidents' Lawyers

What happens when your lawyer is MIA

Sep 1, 2021

John Pierce, the attorney facing federal charges connected to the Jan. 6 insurrection, goes missing and his associate, an unlicensed attorney facing felony indictments, represents the clients. The January 6 select committee makes requests for information, threatening companies not to comply. Also, the podcast discusses sanctions for Sidney Powell and Lin Wood by a federal judge and potential consequences for Jacob Wohl in a civil suit.

35:16

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Episode guests

John Pierce

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Quick takeaways

The absence of attorney John Pierce raises concerns about the validity of convictions obtained with representation from an absent attorney, highlighting the importance of consistently available legal representation.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's threats and coercion to discourage compliance with document requests from the House select committee could potentially constitute obstruction of justice, indicating the seriousness of interfering with congressional investigations.

Deep dives

John Pierce's Disappearance and Legal Troubles

John Pierce, an attorney who has represented several defendants involved in the Capitol riot, including Kyle Rittenhouse, is currently missing. His associate, Ryan Marshall, has been showing up at court appearances on his behalf, but cannot reach Pierce. There are conflicting reports about his whereabouts, with some suggesting he may be hospitalized with COVID. This poses a significant problem for his clients and the government as it raises concerns about the validity of convictions obtained with representation from an absent attorney.

Introduction

2min

The Absence of Lawyers and Its Dilemma

7min

Parallel Investigations and Obstruction of Justice

11min

Controversy and Consequences: The Shooting of Ashley Babbitt

7min

Consequences of Not Paying a FCC Fine and Debtor's Prisons

2min

The Judge's Searing Sanctions Order

7min

What happens when you’re facing federal charges connected to the Jan. 6 insurrection and your lawyer….goes missing? And their associate, who has been showing up in court, is not a licensed attorney and is facing felony indictments? Yikes. That’s the case for clients of John Pierce, one of the more ideological advocates. What happens when an attorney is incapacitated and unable to represent his or her clients? And what could happen to those clients?

Then: the January 6 select committee is starting to make requests for information, some of which are going to telecommunications companies. At this point, these are requests, not subpoenas. House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy is telling communications companies not to comply with those requests, saying they are unlawful and if the companies comply, “a Republican majority will not forget.” Ken says this is approaching the line of obstruction of justice by in effect threatening future legislation against those who cooperate with a congressional committee.

Another thing Ken says isn’t a good idea: doing anything that will inspire a federal judge to write a 100-page ruling that’s not in your favor. In this case, it’s sanctions for Sidney Powell and Lin Wood from federal judge Linda Parker.

Plus: a possibility $5 million fine for Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, another civil suit for former President Trump and more.