Greetings, The Friday Whine is a casual email to friends and colleagues and contains two things: An ethics update, and a wine recommendation. If you see text in blue, it is a link to an article or information.
Ethics
The Michael Cohen Raid
Yesterday I was giving a case law update on ethics. I asked if there were any questions about the cases I mentioned. First question: “What do you think about the Michael Cohen raid?”
OK then.
I think Michael Cohen isn’t so bothered by the raid. I think he is so deeply, and disturbingly committed to his client, the President, that he is OK – even happy to be the reason that the President is now seriously considering finding a way to get rid of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. I think Michael Cohen would be fine losing his license, and going to jail if the result was also the end of the special counsel’s investigation against his client.
I know this sounds odd – how can a lawyer almost “want” a raid of their office and home, but Michael Cohen is a different kind of lawyer. He doesn’t act like a typical lawyer – he acts like a bodyguard with a law license – willing to step in front of his client, and at a minimum, get punched in the face.
The evidence from the raid will be of the same nature that we’ve seen – payoffs to women, threatening letters to file never-filed lawsuits, and other communications that sound less like a lawyer’s words, and more like a mobster.
Michael Cohen is probably going to get indicted, for something, and yes, it will be unrelated to Russia, but I don’t know if we’ll hear from him anytime soon, rumor (denied by him) is that he’s doing what he should have done long ago – remaining silent.
Wine
Nebbiolo
What? Neb-be-oh-low? Yes, the grape in Italy’s Barolo and Barbaresco. When you drink a Nebbiolo, it’s an entry level wine of the same grapes used in higher end Piedmont wines. I had a great one this week – Dominico Negro Nebbiolo “Angelin.” Even better, it’s $25.