Thompson Provided Legal Counsel For Pan Am 103 Bombers

TPM Election Central:

Add another interesting entry to the list of Fred Thompson's legal/lobbying clientele: Libyan terrorists.

The New York Times reports that billing records from the early 1990's show that Thompson gave advice to a colleague who was working on behalf of two Libyan intelligence officials implicated in the infamous Pan Am Flight 103 bombing in 1988, which killed 270 people.

At the time, Thompson worked for the Washington firm Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn, and logged 3.3 billable hours giving advice to Arent Fox attorney John Culver, a former Democratic senator from Iowa, on jurisdictional issues surrounding the case.

Read the whole story: TPM Election Central

Comments

[Rocket88]

10:55 PM on 09/11/2007

Why should Senator Thompson be held to a higher standard than Baker,Botts representing the Saudis for the law suits stemming from 9/11 attack, or the Bush's and their spiriting the Bin Ladens out of the U.S. after 9/11 or Regan selling aircraft parts to the Iranians and the Iraqi's at the same time during the Iran Iraq War. Never mind the ethics or loayalties, there's big money to be made.
There's nothing more American then a healthy profit, the more scurrilous the sexier it is.

[Poised]

07:30 PM on 09/11/2007

How very NewYorkTimesish to hold this story until the week after Fred T announces. If they'd stop pulling this krep I'd take their reporting much more seriously. As it is, I find myself voting against whoever the media enthusiastically supports because I don't want to be unduly influenced by their prejudices.
As for Thompson, I cannot get a handle on him. He seems a jigsaw puzzle with pieces that don't quite interlock. (He doesn't seem very together.) The theme that runs through his story seems to be money--anything for a buck, anything for a babe too.

Poised -- Independent seriously seeking a 2008 candidate

[ecotopian]

12:48 AM on 09/11/2007

And John Adams provided the defense for the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. The point is? That people shouldn't get proper legal advice no matter how heinous the crime? That sets a fine example of the rule of law.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, in the case of Adams, then the schools are as bad I think they are.

[midwestvoter]

09:16 AM on 09/11/2007

Although our country is unique because we do perceive people innocent until proven guilty and provide legal counsel to all, it is somewhat telling. Edwards' trail attorney career consisted of defending consumers who were horrifically harmed by Corporate giants cutting corners on safety to make additional profits. Fred Thompson used his law degree to enrich himself as a lobbyist for greedy Corp clients seeking to get away with cutting corners and terrorists accused of mass murder. Interesting. But hey, he's a TV actor and can "play" a PResident! Nuff said.

[armadillious2002]

09:50 AM on 09/11/2007

Amen - Edwrds' career the total opposite of Fred's.

[MoeJava]

02:19 PM on 09/10/2007

His new firm is Dewey Cheatem and Howe.
What a wunnerful example of Republican values at work! He's a miracle worker - he has a record of pro-abortion lobbying, yet the Repubs view this as Anti-Abortion views.

[TerryFL]

01:17 PM on 09/10/2007

.

Apparently, Fred is an Islamo-Fascist.

.

[Colmore]

01:47 PM on 09/10/2007

I have attended funerals where the recently departed looked healthier than Fred. This is the GOP saviour? He needs a good long rest. They say his little trophy wife want this more than he does. Does she think she can run the country? Please spare us the little red pickup and the homespun homilies. Just go home, Fred, you are not the man for the job. Someone with lots of stamina has to pull us out of the rat hole the GOP dragged the country into.

[Colmore]

01:37 PM on 09/10/2007

Dear God. I have been to funerals where the recently departed looked healthier than Fred. This man is not well, nor does he have the stamina needed for the job. His little trophy wife is said to be pulling all the strings, and wants it more than he does. Maybe she thinks SHE can run the country??

[TerryFL]

01:14 PM on 09/10/2007

.

Apparently Fred is an Islamo-Fascist.

.

[esgabel]

01:32 PM on 09/10/2007

In our rule of law there is nothing that is wrong with that--now I know if it had been a liberal who was running for President who provided counsel he or she would be characterized as unpatriotic -- but everyone has a right to counsel and a fair trial no matter how heinous they are--that is what makes America so unique and so great. We have not lived up to those ideals in Guantanamo or the renditions to other countries because of fear.
Whether it was for money or principal it was the right thing to do.