WASHINGTON (CN) — Citing reports that former Trump attorney Sidney Powell is footing legal fees for several right-wing extremists charged in the Capitol riot, the Department of Justice asked a federal judge Wednesday to ensure that opposing counsel are following professional conduct rules.
“Based on public reporting, the government understands that an organization named Defending the Republic, which is controlled by lawyer Sidney Powell, is paying the fees of certain defense counsel in these cases,” prosecutors wrote in a motion for inquiry.
Before former President Donald Trump fired her, Powell was perhaps known best for pushing an increasingly outlandish conspiracy theory about supposed voter fraud in the 2020 election that she said involved the late Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez, billionaire Democrat George Soros, the Clinton Foundation and others. More recently, Powell has been accused of making personal expenditures from the roughly $15 million that she raised through her nonprofit Defending the Republic.
Powell's ties to Capitol rioters came into question meanwhile in the wake of articles by Buzzfeed and MotherJones that say Defending the Republic is paying defense fees for Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Connie Meggs and Kenneth Harrelson, all of whom belong to the militia-style Oath Keepers group and were arrested for trying to overthrow the U.S. government on Jan. 6, 2021.
In early June, the government called on 10 defense attorneys for the Oath Keepers to confirm in writing that they are not receiving funding from Powell's organization.
Seven responses have come back, and the Justice Department says U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta should order all attorneys for each of the 17 accused co-conspirators to show up in court for a review of their attorney-client fee agreements.
As prosecutors see it, making them all come before the judge to ensure “their compliance with the requirements” and that they are “sufficiently apprised of the nature of the conflict” could prevent future legal snafus as their August 8 trial date approaches.
“The government is filing this motion because it has an interest and an obligation to ensure it represents its client, the United States, competently and diligently,” prosecutors wrote.
Facing seditious conspiracy charges, the 17 Oath Keepers are accused of conspiring to stop Congress’ certification of President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
Authorities claim they communicated through encrypted chats, stocked up on weapons and traveled across the country to “oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power” on Jan. 6.
There have been three plea deals to date with Oath Keepers William Todd Wilson, Brian Ulrich and Joshua James.
Sidney Powell’s attorney Bob Holmes meanwhile appeared before a federal judge in Texas on Wednesday to seek the dismissal of ethics charges filed against her by the State Bar of Texas, which Holmes credited to “disgruntled Democrats.”
Members of the Proud Boys, another right-wing extremist group, were also set to begin trial on Aug. 8, but they raised concerns over potential juror bias in the nation’s capital amid what they called the “ongoing, much watched and arguably garish televised" public hearings of the Special House Committee to study the attack on Jan. 6. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly agreed Wednesday to delay their trial until at least Dec. 12.
The Justice Department has charged more than 840 people in connection with the Capitol riot. As of June 8, about 246 people have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, 59 have pleaded guilty to felonies, and at least 80 people have been sentenced to incarceration.
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