The Guardian | Epstein victim says Bard president helped legitimize sex offender by Stephanie Kirchgaessner

Leon Botstein’s communications and relationship with Epstein under review by WilmerHale law firm, while Bard president says he never witnessed anything inappropriate

A victim of Jeffrey Epstein who had previous interactions with Leon Botstein said she believed the Bard College president, whose relationship with the late sex offender is currently under review, was part of a group of influential and accomplished men whose proximity to Epstein helped to rehabilitate his reputation.

Svetlana Pozhidaeva, a former Russian model who worked as a “staffer” for Epstein, told the Guardian in an interview that she saw Botstein with Epstein together “quite frequently” – including having flown with him on a trip to Epstein’s island in December 2012 – and that she believed his reputation as a “sophisticated intellectual” helped “legitimize” Epstein.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/24/jeffrey-epstein-bard-college-president

#jeffreyepstein #leonbotstein #wilmerhale #bardcollege #guardian

DOJ Un-Drops Its Appeal Against Law Firms, Files Brief That Gets The First Amendment Exactly Backwards

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.techdirt.com/2026/03/09/doj-un-drops-its-appeal-against-law-firms-files-brief-that-gets-the-first-amendment-exactly-backwards/

Here we go. #Anthropic sues the Government for labeling it a security risk out of animus. #WilmerHale, one of the #LawFirms that stood up to #Trump's bullying #ExecutiveOrders now gets paid to explain again that the government doesn't get to have hurt feelings.

Anthropic PBC v. U.S. Department of War (California N.D. 26-cv-01996) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72379655/anthropic-pbc-v-us-department-of-war/

Five counts, one theme — animus omnia vitiat:

Count I — APA / 10 U.S.C. § 3252 — The "supply chain risk" designation doesn't follow the statute or the facts.

Count II — First Amendment Retaliation — "AI shouldn't autonomously kill people" is protected speech.

Count III — Ultra Vires / Article II — No law lets a President destroy a company by social media post.

Count IV — Fifth Amendment Due Process — You can't de facto debar someone with no notice, no hearing, no findings.

Count V — APA § 558 — Agencies can't impose sanctions outside their delegated authority.

The Trump Administration had a temper tantrum and said "You're not the boss of me, I'm the boss of you. I'll end you!". Anthropic points out that animus is no substitute for #RuleOfLaw.

So why did they sue #Hegseth's #DepartmentOfWar rather than the statutory #DepartmentOfDefense? Because Trump authorized the name, because it shows respect to #Hegseth's sensitive feelings, and because it underscores the ridiculousness of the government tasking #AI to kill (and surveil) people autonomously. #skynet! On the off-chance the judge orders a caption change, their hands are clean and the lawyer's can't point to any act of defiance.

https://gizmodo.com/anthropic-officially-sues-the-pentagon-for-labeling-the-ai-company-a-supply-chain-risk-2000731365

#law #weiss #jenner #WilmerHale #lawfirms

"While the firms that rejected a deal and fought back have now notched a string of decisive wins in court, others that sought to appease Mr. #Trump have seen high-profile resignations and internal discord. Last week, four of Paul Weiss’s best-known partners resigned to start their own venture, after others, including the firm’s top pro bono leader, left shortly after the order."

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/us/politics/trump-law-firms-wilmerhale.html?smid=nytcore-android-share

#Trump Loses Another Battle in His War Against #LawFirms

A judge struck down an executive order targeting #WilmerHale, in the latest victory for the handful of #law firms that have fought back against a Trump admin crackdown.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/us/politics/trump-law-firms-wilmerhale.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=p&pvid=11948D2F-6214-4AB3-8467-40B9EA1821B9