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Monday, March 18, 2024 | Back issues
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Indicted Russian Firm Cries Foul Over Skadden Arps Settlement

Days after Skadden Arps was made to register as a foreign agent, a Russian company told a federal judge Tuesday that the case suggests Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been treating it unfairly.

WASHINGTON (CN) - Days after Skadden Arps was made to register as a foreign agent, a Russian company told a federal judge Tuesday that the case suggests Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been treating it unfairly.

Recognized by Forbes as “Wall Street’s most powerful law firm,” Skadden Arps came clean about its work with convicted lobbyist Paul Manafort on behalf of the Ukrainian government as part of a $4.6 million settlement Thursday with the Department of Justice.

Prosecutors say Skadden sought to shape the public perception of the Ukraine following that jailing by that government of its former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

On Tuesday, Concord Management and Consulting drew parallels between the case and its indictment as part of the ongoing investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.

Concord, which is owned by a Russian oligarch, is accused of helping fund the internet troll farms that spread negative headlines about Hillary Clinton to tip the election for her Republican opponent Donald Trump.

The company asked U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich on Tuesday to allow discovery on whether Mueller's office targeted it for selective prosecution.

"Unlike Skadden, Concord is not accused of (1) making material false statements to the FARA Unit, or (2) making material omissions in communications with the FARA Unit," the 5-page filing states, using an abbreviation for Foreign Agents Registration Act. "Nor does the indictment contain with any specificity an allegation that Concord was aware of the existence of FARA or the FARA Unit. As such, Skadden's admitted conduct is far more direct, obvious and egregious than the allegations against Concord - yet Skadden was not prosecuted."

Represented by Eric Dubelier with the firm Reed Smith, Concord asks Friedrich allow discovery on whether the Justice Department ever considered indicting Skadden, whether the decision not to prosecute the law firm was based on it being a U.S. company and "why Skadden was permitted to purchase a declination."

Dubelier did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Special Counsel's Office declined to comment through a spokesman.  

Categories / Criminal, Government, International, Politics

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