While the attention is focused on Michael Cohen, another Trump lawyer’s corruption is flying under the radar. This time, it’s none other than the “devoted Christian” Jay Sekulow. Sekulow is so dedicated to serving the Lord that he runs a nonprofit group called Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism (CASE).
It turns out that that his service to Jesus is more than a little bit self-serving. Attorneys General for two states are investigating CASE for allegedly diverting tens of millions of dollars to Sekulow, his family. and their businesses.
The investigations are being conducted by Eric Schneiderman of New York and Josh Stein of North Carolina.
Stein said in a statement: “The reports I’ve read are troubling. My office is looking into this matter.”
Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for Schneiderman, said in an email: “We’re reviewing their filings.”
The Democratic state law enforcement officials acted following the disclosure that Case and an affiliate have since 2000 paid more than $60m in compensation and contracts to Sekulow, his relatives and companies where they hold senior roles.
Of course, nonprofits are not allowed to unduly enrich the people running them. But to make matters even worse, CASE telemarketser have been specifically instructed to lie to people in order to get them to donate.
Fundraisers were told that if asked for information on Sekulow, they should say: “He never charges for his services”.
CASE’s telemarketing script uses a hard sell to pressure people into donating. They start by using alarmist pitches like scaring people by telling them they’re being targeted by Islamic extremists who are rapidly approaching. And the telemarketers are not allowed to take no for an answer. Prospects are subjected to three appeals for cash before the marketer ends the call. One example:
People receiving calls in 2010 who declined to donate on the grounds that they could generally not afford to contribute were told by telemarketers: “I wouldn’t call if this weren’t an absolute emergency,” and that abortions would be funded by Obamacare. “Just in the time that we’ve talked, three more innocent babies have lost their lives,” said the marketers’ script.If still resistant to donating, people were to be told: “Millions of lives may be at stake.”
Remember, Donald Trump said that he hires only the best people. It turns out that the best people want to have nothing to do with Trump. Trump doesn’t seem to really want them, anyway. Corruption seems to be a job requirement to work for The Donald. And Sekulow is typical of the kind of Christians that support Trump — phony, hypocritical ones who use religion to disguise their own lack of morals.
So now we have not one, but two Trump lawyers under investigation. Giving new meaning to MAGA — Making Attorneys Get Attorneys.