Watergate prosecutor predicts next big thing in Georgia case

[struggle4progress]

BY AILA SLISCO ON 8/23/23 AT 12:02 AM EDT

... former Watergate prosecutor Nick Akerman .... predicted during a Tuesday night CNN interview that the "next big thing" in the Georgia case would be a series of Trump's co-defendants — including figures like his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani — deciding to cooperate with Willis to save themselves and their pocketbooks ...

Akerman suggested that the former New York City mayor would have difficulty finding a lawyer willing to take his case in Georgia, regardless of his cash on hand, due to fears of being "stuck" with an unpaid bill ...

"He has to be able to pay a lot of money up front to some attorney to represent him in this case," Akerman said. "He's looking at a minimum of $500,000 to $700,000 up-front retainer to whoever is going to take this case. I mean, it's a very serious case, it's going to go on for a very long period of time."

"Nobody's going to want to be the last victim in the crime wave here," he added. "I mean, they don't want to be stuck with a major bill, just like Donald Trump has stuck person after person, lawyer after lawyer, in legal bills."

Akerman went on to say that "a lot of" Trump's co-defendants in Georgia would be compelled to cooperate due to being unable to afford private legal representation ...

https://www.newsweek.com/watergate-prosecutor-predicts-next-big-thing-trumps-georgia-case-1821765

[Meadowoak]

1. I predicted that a long time ago, as they say, there's no honor or loyalty among thieves.

[musclecar6]

2. Good

By now, everyone knows the defendant stiffs everyone. Hope they have great stuff to offer up.

[Disaffected]

3. You know all this also emphasises another important issue.

It is the bizarre cost of obtaining a good legal defence. Almost 3/4 $1 million just for a retainer??

What does it go towards? $1,000 per hour lawyer time (or whatever usurious amount they sometimes charge)?

These lawyers must think they are plumbers or something...

[davsand]

4. Lawyers are entitled to get paid for their work.

They are no different than the kids working part time mowing yards. Not to put too fine of a point on it, but taking on a case of this magnitude will likely require that attorney to focus exclusively on that one case. Essentially, that entire practice will consist of that one case, and wanting to be paid up front is perfectly reasonable given the reported financial difficulties of that particular client.

I also want to point out that Public Defenders are available in criminal cases if needed. Getting the (presumed to be good) high ticket defense is gonna cost.


Laura

[getagrip_already]

5. I think I heard that in ga...

Public defenders are only available if you can show you are destitute. Simply being unable or unwilling to afford a lawyer won't cut it if you have assets you can leverage.

Once you are truly broke, then they will give you a lawyer. Sucks to be charged in ga.

[former9thward]

13. Sucks to be charged anywhere.

All states have the same system. The state has all the resources paid by the taxpayer and the person charged is at their mercy.

[Disaffected]

8. Sure, lawyers are entitled to get paid and,

demand for upfront payment is not unreasonable but, the point here is the amount of payment. It seems exorbitant in many cases and creates a v serious problem for rich and poor alike (unless you are a billionaire I suppose) i.e "how much justice can you afford?"

Plumbers are entitled to get paid too...

[drray23]

11. for cases like this, that fee is not just that lawyer

its the resources being it. The lawyer is the visible part but there is a team of clerks, paralegals, researchers, etc.. behind a case that big. Thats what this $1000.0 an hour pays for.

I do agree with you, that in America, its better to be wealthy than poor if you want to have good representation in court. The system is skewed towards the rich.

[Disaffected]

14. True, the lawyer doesn't get all of it

but still it seems a lot (per hour). If folks like Giuliani and (supposedly) Trump can't afford it, how about others and especially some of the other co-defendants.

Hell, I had a semi-retired lawyer, who had no staff and worked out of her house, draw up my will and she charged $350/hr.

[Hortensis]

6. :) The things we learn. Apparently that is the usual pattern in RICO cases,

so normal that prosecutors reportedly often expect the list of those charged to become significantly shorter.

The defendants start out thinking "must hang together or will hang separately," then change their minds. Interestingly, the less important defendants reportedly tend to be the first to break, to think protecting the big guys isn't their own best course.

[leftyladyfrommo]

7. Low income people can't afford lawyers. Any more , low

income people can't afford a lot of things. I know I can't.

[William769]

9. K&R.

[Firestorm49]

10. Hey Rudy, don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

[onenote]

12. I predict he's wrong.

He's attributing rational behavior to irrational people.