Tensions are rising as the US gets closer to what may be another divisive presidential election, as evidenced by the intense legal ethical dispute between Trump-aligned attorneys and watchdog organizations. The conflict highlights how important lawyers are in determining democratic procedures and voting integrity.
Legal Ethics Complaints Spark Major Counteroffensive
The 65 Project, an advocacy group that launched after Trump’s failed 2020 election challenges, has filed more than 80 ethics complaints against lawyers who aided in that effort. Now, they face significant pushback from America First Legal, a pro-Trump organization founded by former White House aide Stephen Miller.
America First Legal’s recent actions include:
- Filing a bar complaint against Michael Teter, the 65 Project’s lead attorney
- Accusing the group of engaging in a left-wing intimidation campaign
- Challenging the legitimacy of targeting lawyers based on client representation
Legal Ethics Enforcement Shows Complex Outcomes
The impact of the 65 Project’s campaign reveals a mixed landscape of accountability:
- Four lawyers have faced professional discipline
- Three complaints were dismissed by state disciplinary boards in Georgia and Pennsylvania
- Twelve attorneys previously targeted continue their election-related litigation
- State bar associations face criticism for slow investigation processes
Legal Ethics Battleground: Current Litigation Front
Recent legal activities paint a picture of intense contestation:
- Trump allies suffered 11 court defeats in battleground states
- Two significant victories emerged:
- Pennsylvania extended mail-in ballot request deadlines
- The Supreme Court upheld Virginia’s voter roll purge of 1,600 people
Legal Ethics Watchdog: America First Legal’s Role
The organization has demonstrated substantial growth and influence:
- Received $44.4 million in contributions during 2022
- Expanded focus from diversity and migration to election issues
- Filed significant lawsuit in Arizona challenging 44,000 voter registrations
- Neither group discloses funding sources, though the 65 Project claims support from democracy-focused donors
Legal Ethics Crisis: Electoral Implications
The escalating conflict raises serious concerns about the post-election period:
- Trump’s public statements suggesting potential fraud claims
- Increased likelihood of result contestation
- Growing role of attorneys in electoral disputes
- Potential impact on public confidence in electoral processes
In response to criticism, Teter has stated that the complaints show
“the fear among those who would like to use the courts to subvert democracy.”
The 65 Project has come out strong. The organization has spent $100,000 on ads in legal journals alerting lawyers to the possible license risks associated with endorsing irrational election challenges.
Meanwhile, America First Legal’s executive director Gene Hamilton argues that
“seeking the personal destruction and financial ruin of another lawyer – simply because of the client he represented or the cause he took up – runs counter to… the letter and spirit of the law governing the activities of lawyers.”
As November 5 approaches, this intensifying legal ethics battle exemplifies the broader tensions within America’s legal system. The conflict between protecting electoral integrity and preserving attorneys’ professional freedoms continues to shape the landscape of election law, with potentially far-reaching implications for the upcoming presidential contest.