Key members of Google's legal team are spearheading a fundraiser for Kamala Harris on Friday, as Biden and Harris join the Justice Department in a historic antitrust case targeting the Big Tech giant. During the confrontation, he pointed out concerns about conflicts of interest.
Karen Dunn, a top litigator at the Whiteshoe law firm Paul Weiss who is defending Google on charges of orchestrating a digital advertising monopoly, has been named as a co-chair of an expensive shindig in Washington, D.C. There is.
As the newspaper reported, Mr. Dunn shocked the Belt and Road community after giving Google's opening argument in a federal court in Virginia last month. And just hours later, he rushed to help Harris with final preparations for her debate with Donald Trump in Philadelphia.
Other Paul Weiss attorneys who defended Google's high-stakes case, Jeannie Lee and Bill Isaacson, are co-hosts. Mr. Li was particularly responsible for cross-examining news publishers who testified that Google's tactics had dried up vital revenue.
The roster of fundraisers is just the latest sign of what critics say is an overly friendly relationship between the Harris campaign and its Big Tech allies that could upend efforts to rein in the industry.
“If the government is beholden to opposing counsel, that's a conflict of interest,” Jeff Hauser, executive director of the Revolving Door Project, told the Post. “That is why lawyers should not be allowed to participate in settlement negotiations with the Department of Justice. If so.”
Harris campaign representatives and Paul Weiss did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Google declined to comment.
Tickets to the fundraiser range from $3,300 to $50,000, according to invitations reviewed by the Post. Co-sponsors are expected to contribute at least $25,000 and co-chairs $50,000.
Attendees will rub shoulders with Democratic heavyweights such as former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Uber's general counsel, Harris' brother-in-law Tony West, and former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates at a reception in Washington, D.C. .
All three have come under intense scrutiny for their perceived friendliness to Big Tech and other corporate interests. Mr. Holder and Mr. West are reportedly on Harris' short list of cabinet candidates should she win the presidency.
Brendan Benedict, an antitrust litigator at Benedict Law Group, said the fundraiser paints a bad picture for Harris. criticized President Trump in July After reportedly hosting a dinner for oil industry executives at Mar-a-Lago, he complained about his “dependence on support from billionaires and big corporations” and “in exchange for campaign contributions.” The company was criticized for “having transaction access to”
“Amid two Justice Department-led antitrust lawsuits against the company, accepting campaign contributions from Google executives and Google lawyers or attending events sponsored by them may not violate federal ethics laws.'' “However, any reasonable voter could question Ms. Harris' integrity,” Benedict said. “She is managing according to the standards she has set for herself.”
“Consumers and competitors harmed by Google's actions do not have the same level of access or the same resources,” he added.
Although his name is not listed on the invitation, Brad Karp, chairman of Paul Weiss, is a major donor to the Democratic Party and is a member of the Lawyers for Kamala Harris committee to raise money for the campaign. Established the Association.
Paul Weiss employees donated a whopping $1.54 million to Democratic causes in 2024 alone. According to data from OpenSecrets.
The Department of Justice has two antitrust cases pending against Google that could significantly impact its revenue. Closing arguments in the digital advertising lawsuit are scheduled to be heard in November.
In August, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly on online search.
Federal authorities recently said they may seek a forced sale of Google's Chrome browser, Google Play app store and Android operating system following a victory, with a judge expected to make a final decision by next summer. It's planned.
Critics have previously alleged that tech-friendly advisers close to Ms. Harris have been behind the scenes lobbying for more lenient treatment of Google, including a “slap on the wrist settlement,” rather than a meaningful change in Google's strategy or a breakup of its business. It is sounding the alarm that this could happen.
Meanwhile, Republican leaders are focused on Dunn's dual role as Google's top lawyer and a close adviser to Harris.
Last month, a top Trump campaign adviser slammed Dunn's actions as “outrageous” and said they show Harris “will never stand up to Big Tech.”
On September 10th, Republican-led House Judiciary Committee requests conference U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke about how the Justice Department was “working to combat potential conflicts of interest and political bias” in connection with Dunn's involvement in the Google case.
