America First Legal (AFL) has filed a bar complaint against Michael Teter, the Director of The 65 Project. AFL accuses Teter of misusing the attorney grievance process to pursue sanctions against lawyers linked with former President Trump.
The complaint was submitted on behalf of Stefan Passantino and calls for the Utah State Bar to investigate. AFL claims that The 65 Project was created with the goal of disbarring attorneys aligned with Trump. Teter allegedly filed nearly 100 ethics complaints against such lawyers, including one against Passantino.
Teter's complaint against Passantino accused him of providing poor representation to Cassidy Hutchinson during her appearance before the January 6 Committee. It alleged attempts to obstruct the committee's inquiry into the Capitol attack. However, AFL argues that these accusations have been proven false by recent findings from a congressional subcommittee.
The subcommittee revealed that Hutchinson had been in communication with former Congresswoman Liz Cheney without Passantino's knowledge. This new information prompted AFL to file a bar complaint against Cheney for her undisclosed interactions with Hutchinson.
AFL contends that Teter's complaints were based on unverified sources and boilerplate language used in multiple cases. They argue that his actions aim to deter attorneys from representing Trump or his associates by creating a "culture of deterrence."
The organization recently initiated an investigation into The 65 Project's ties with the Biden-Harris Department of Justice. AFL emphasizes its commitment to ensuring integrity within the legal profession and protecting attorneys' rights.
Gene Hamilton, Executive Director of America First Legal, stated: “For too long, ‘lawfare’ like that undertaken by The 65 Project and other, similarly motivated groups, has chilled attorneys across the country from representing clients or advancing certain lawful positions for those clients... We seek a return to a world in which lawyers can be lawyers... The abuses of the system must stop.”
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