A left-wing group, Project 65, is threatening to disbar lawyers who consider representing Donald Trump, raising serious constitutional concerns over the right to legal counsel and sparking calls for an investigation into their intimidation tactics.
A left-wing group known as Project 65 is raising alarms by threatening potential lawyers who might represent former President Donald Trump, warning them of potential disbarment for taking his case. The group, which has targeted Trump’s legal team since 2020, recently escalated its campaign with an ad on Instagram cautioning attorneys that representing Trump could "endanger" their law licenses and expose them to ethics complaints. These actions are sparking concerns about the legality and constitutionality of Project 65’s tactics, likely prompting an investigation into the group’s motives.
The ad, directed at legal professionals, warns: “Don’t let partisan politics endanger your standing with the bar. The Porter Wright Partners face ethics complaints over Trump campaign post-election work. Don’t risk your law license by joining an effort to subvert democracy. We – and the public – are watching.” The message appears to be a direct threat to any attorney considering defending Trump, suggesting that merely associating with the former president’s legal team could lead to professional consequences.
Project 65 has a history of targeting lawyers who worked for Trump. After the 2020 election, the group filed ethics complaints against attorneys Ronald Hicks and Carolyn McGee, who were partners at Porter Wright, a firm that briefly represented Trump’s campaign in Pennsylvania. Both attorneys withdrew from the case days after the election amid significant pressure. Project 65’s 2022 complaints against them have not resulted in disciplinary action, but the message from the group is clear: representing Trump could come with a cost.
David Brock, a key Hillary Clinton ally and founder of left-wing media watchdog group Media Matters, helped launch Project 65. Although the organization’s donors remain undisclosed, it has well-documented ties to Democratic Party heavyweights. Project 65 has reportedly targeted over 100 attorneys who worked on Trump’s legal challenges in 2020, with its stated goal of preventing Republicans from securing legal representation in the upcoming 2024 election fight.
However, Project 65’s threats raise serious constitutional concerns. The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to legal representation in criminal cases, a right that Trump, facing multiple indictments, is entitled to. Additionally, the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct strictly prohibit lawyers from using legal processes to harass or intimidate others, a principle that could be applied to Project 65’s campaign against potential Trump lawyers.
The group’s actions have triggered concerns about free speech, legal ethics, and due process. As their threats intensify, Project 65 may face legal scrutiny, as targeting lawyers for merely considering representation in a politically charged case could be seen as a violation of the very principles of justice the group claims to defend.
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