E-Mails Suggest Law Firm Considered ‘Dirty-Tricks’ Plan to Discredit Chamber Critics

[Joanne98]

Source: ABA Law Journal

The Hunton & Williams law and lobbying firm considered proposals from three data security contractors to undermine opponents of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, according to e-mail released by hackers angered by the CEO of one of the security firms.

The Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post have stories on the e-mails, first revealed last week by the liberal blog ThinkProgress. According to the Post, the e-mails reveal plans for a “dirty-tricks-style campaign” against Chamber critics. The security firms, which called themselves “Team Themis,” hoped to win a $2 million Chamber contract with their proposals.

Hunton & Williams declined to comment when contacted by the Washington Post. According to ThinkProgress, the law firm earned $1.1 million from the Chamber in 2009.

The Chamber said in a statement that it never requested such a plan, nor was it discussed with anyone at the Chamber. However, some of the e-mails apparently refer to contacts made with Chamber personnel, according to the stories. One e-mail refers to a demonstration session that “sold the Chamber” and another discusses briefing the Chamber on results that could get the organization to “pony up the cash for Phase II,” according to the Washington Post.



Read more: http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/e-mails_suggest_hunton_law_firm_considered_dirty-tricks_plan_to_discredit_c/

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Now the ABA is getting involved. YES!

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. Oh yeah! The CoC was knee deep in this and would have gone forward

if the operation would have remained secret. One wonders if the FBI is even investigating what appears to be a tidal wave of crime at the CoC and the others mentioned.

[DirkGently]

2. Wasn't Hunton Williams also referred to Bank of America by the DOJ?

That's one of the more chilling details I've read. This firm that deals with dirty, vicious, below-the-belt "security firms" is apparently a friend of our government.

It is illegal for the government to propagandize the American public. Coordinating with a corporation to do exactly that, and in dirty, likely-illegal ways to boot, would be in clear conflict with the supposed mission of the Department of Justice.

[WingDinger]

3. Once upon a time, that was conspiracy to commit fraud.