The America First Legal foundation filed a formal complaint on Monday in Utah against Michael Teter, director of The 65 Project, a left-leaning group allegedly engaging in “lawfare” by pressuring attorneys considering working for former President Donald Trump. The complaint accuses Teter of abusing the attorney grievance system to dissuade potential Trump lawyers with threats of sanctions and disbarment.
The 65 Project has gained attention for warning lawyers on social media that working for Trump could put their legal licenses in jeopardy. Through a series of online ads and social media campaigns, the group has actively discouraged lawyers from representing Trump, with messages indicating that such representation could “endanger” their standing with the bar.
According to America First Legal, The 65 Project has filed almost 100 ethics complaints against attorneys tied to Trump, all signed by Teter and allegedly without direct knowledge of the accusations. The foundation’s complaint points to cases like that of attorney Stefan Passantino, who represented Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson. Media sources had previously reported, incorrectly, that Passantino advised Hutchinson to mislead the January 6 Committee, and The 65 Project went on to file a complaint against him. Teter’s actions, according to America First, reflect a troubling campaign to undermine the rights of individuals associated with Trump to legal representation.
America First Legal claims that Teter’s approach to these complaints displays a bias against Trump and those who might support him, intending to create a “culture of deterrence” by intimidating potential Trump-aligned attorneys. This action against The 65 Project follows an additional bar complaint by America First Legal against former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, related to her communications with Hutchinson during the January 6 hearings.
In a statement, America First Legal stated, “The 65 Project’s threats against attorneys willing to represent President Trump undermine the constitutional right to legal counsel and send a message that some clients are unworthy of representation.”