How much of a phony is Kamala Harris?
Answer: Harris criticized the law firm that once represented billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein — and then took their money in the next breath, the Associated Press reported. The presidential hopeful criticized the law firm Kirkland & Ellis over their role in a much condemned 2008 plea deal with Epstein on the same day that she accepted money from partners at the firm.
For phony politicians like Harris, words come easy. But saying no to campaign money? That’s a different story.
Harris blasts Epstein’s old law firm…
Epstein’s recent arrest on new sex trafficking charges raised speculation about who would go down with him, and revived criticism of the 2008 “sweetheart deal” that let him get away with just 13 months in jail for allegedly abusing dozens of underage girls. Democrats did not hesitate to pile on President Donald Trump’s former Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, who was forced out last week for his role in the deal.
The 2020 Democratic presidential candidates all weighed in on the 2008 deal by blasting Acosta, who helped arrange the deal with partners from Kirkland & Ellis, which represented Epstein. Harris did not neglect to make her feelings known on the firm’s role last Tuesday, saying that Justice Department officials who worked at Kirkland & Ellis should recuse themselves from the Epstein case.
“In our democracy, no one — no matter how powerful or well connected — is above the law. Yet Epstein’s deal, secured by his lawyers at Kirkland and Ellis, calls into question the integrity of our legal system and undermines the public’s confidence that justice will be served,” she said.
… then takes their money
But the same day, six partners from the firm hosted a fundraiser in Chicago for Harris, led by her husband, attorney Douglass Emhoff. A spokesperson for Harris said that there was no contradiction between Harris’s words and actions, arguing that the firm is large and the people who hosted the fundraiser weren’t involved in Epstein’s deal.
“The people involved in that case have not supported her campaign, and she would not want their support anyway,” Ian Sams said.
Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen both worked at the firm. Barr said he would not recuse himself from the new case, although he will not review the 2008 deal.
Hillary Clinton 2.0
It isn’t clear how much Harris raised at the fundraiser. The amount doesn’t need to be reported to the Federal Election Commission until October, the AP noted.
Harris is a career prosecutor and first-term Democratic senator from California. She has often played up her prosecutorial past to argue that she will hold Donald Trump accountable for his alleged crimes. But the Democrat has also faced scrutiny for what some on the left have called a heavy-handed approach to prosecution, including aggressive policing of truancy.
Harris shot up in the polls after being declared the de facto winner of the first round of Democratic primary debates. In a memorable moment, Harris attacked former vice president Joe Biden for praising past work with segregationist senators, as well as opposing federally mandated bussing to end segregation in schooling, recalling her own bussing experience as a girl.
But some criticized Harris for the attack, which many said looked staged, especially after her campaign immediately began selling “that little girl was me” t-shirts. She has also backtracked on the bussing issues. Harris has been criticized for being vague and equivocal when asked about key issues, too often sidestepping by answering, “We need to have a conversation.”
Harris has at least one thing in common with her opponent Biden. When a candidate has no convictions, all they can do is flip-flop and spit platitudes. Harris is an establishment phony — Hillary Clinton 2.0.
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