Trump Eyes Loyal Jewish Soldier As Lawyer, Defender In Russia Probe

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By Daniel J. Solomon May 23, 2017

Marc Kasowitz, whose law firm has long represented President Trump, might also serve as his counsel as the White House confronts the growing Russia scandal.

The president is said to be interviewing several candidates to head an outside legal team on his behalf as Congress and the FBI dig in on their inquiry into ties between the president’s campaign and the Kremlin.

Kasowitz’s law firm, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres and Friedman, has been a go-to source for Trump for decades – and one of its partners, David Friedman, currently serves as the president’s ambassador to Israel.

But there could be complications in picking Kasowitz as the point man on Russia. Joe Lieberman, who is currently under consideration to be the next FBI director, is now a counsel at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres and Friedman.

Choosing Kasowitz as head of Trump’s legal team and Lieberman as the man to lead the government agency probing the matter could lead to serious ethical questions.

But it’s far from a done deal for Kasowitz – according to the Washington Post, Trump is talking with three other candidates, including big names like former George W. Bush solicitor general Theodore B. Olson.

Contact Daniel J. Solomon at solomon@forward.com or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon

Daniel J. Solomon is the former Assistant to the Editor/News Writer at the Forward. Originally from Queens, he attended Harvard as an undergraduate, where he wrote his senior thesis on French-Jewish intellectual history. He is excited to have returned to New York after his time in Massachusetts. Daniel’s passions include folk music, cycling, and pointed argument.

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