Andrew Weissmann

That is a tough and great question. So one, I think it's a very individualized decision about sort of what you do, but at some point there is no choice because you are being directed to do something that you have determined is either illegal, unethical, or just violates whatever principles you have and you can't stomach. For instance, I don't believe in the death penalty.

That is a tough and great question. So one, I think it's a very individualized decision about sort of what you do, but at some point there is no choice because you are being directed to do something that you have determined is either illegal, unethical, or just violates whatever principles you have and you can't stomach. For instance, I don't believe in the death penalty.

If somebody directed me and said you have to prosecute a death penalty case, I would either say you have to fire me or I'm going to resign. I think that's sort of dancing on the head of a pin about which way you do it, the arguments either way. So at some point, if you're in that position where you're directed to do something, you actually have no choice. I mean, you can't go forward. You're

If somebody directed me and said you have to prosecute a death penalty case, I would either say you have to fire me or I'm going to resign. I think that's sort of dancing on the head of a pin about which way you do it, the arguments either way. So at some point, if you're in that position where you're directed to do something, you actually have no choice. I mean, you can't go forward. You're

and look at yourself in the mirror. I think the harder situation is purportedly when Amiel Bove was trying to find somebody to do the evil deed of filing this motion, and he takes the Southern District of New York prosecutors off, and then he goes to public integrity of all places, the public integrity section that has public corruption cases,

and look at yourself in the mirror. I think the harder situation is purportedly when Amiel Bove was trying to find somebody to do the evil deed of filing this motion, and he takes the Southern District of New York prosecutors off, and then he goes to public integrity of all places, the public integrity section that has public corruption cases,

And he basically, on Zoom, is like putting them in a meeting and it's basically cough up somebody or, I mean, what I understand is it's cough up somebody or you're gone. That's sort of the message. And that's where there's, I think, a healthy debate about what's the best way to deal with that. Do you cough somebody up? Do you all resign? I mean, I think there are pros and cons.

And he basically, on Zoom, is like putting them in a meeting and it's basically cough up somebody or, I mean, what I understand is it's cough up somebody or you're gone. That's sort of the message. And that's where there's, I think, a healthy debate about what's the best way to deal with that. Do you cough somebody up? Do you all resign? I mean, I think there are pros and cons.

What ultimately happened was was one person who was near retirement said, I'll sign it. And essentially he then saves what I'll call the good people because they don't then all get fired. And so that is a positive. And if you look at the actual filing that he signed, it's really interesting because the attorney who signed it did not make any factual representations that were false.

What ultimately happened was was one person who was near retirement said, I'll sign it. And essentially he then saves what I'll call the good people because they don't then all get fired. And so that is a positive. And if you look at the actual filing that he signed, it's really interesting because the attorney who signed it did not make any factual representations that were false.

Everything was fake. the acting deputy attorney general has determined the following. The acting deputy attorney general believes this. The acting deputy attorney general has directed X. So the person put their name on it, but was not going to represent anything as being true or his own beliefs. And one other point, when this actually went to court, you've noted that only Emile Bove came.

Everything was fake. the acting deputy attorney general has determined the following. The acting deputy attorney general believes this. The acting deputy attorney general has directed X. So the person put their name on it, but was not going to represent anything as being true or his own beliefs. And one other point, when this actually went to court, you've noted that only Emile Bove came.

And I think there's a reason for that, because if the other lawyer had shown up, and this is essentially what happened in the Roger Stone case when the same similar situation happened and career prosecutors withdrew from the case. If you have that person show up, that would have given Judge Ho the ability to say, tell me what happened. Like, what happened? Why are you here? Why did you sign it?

And I think there's a reason for that, because if the other lawyer had shown up, and this is essentially what happened in the Roger Stone case when the same similar situation happened and career prosecutors withdrew from the case. If you have that person show up, that would have given Judge Ho the ability to say, tell me what happened. Like, what happened? Why are you here? Why did you sign it?

What's going on? And all of the facts about what happened and what Emil Bove had said to the group of public integrity people would have spilled out on the record. So in some ways, Emil Bove was smart to be the person to stand up, but... Dan, that's another thing that's just so unusual. Not only is it completely unheard of to see career people resign, last time I can think of it was Trump 1.0.

What's going on? And all of the facts about what happened and what Emil Bove had said to the group of public integrity people would have spilled out on the record. So in some ways, Emil Bove was smart to be the person to stand up, but... Dan, that's another thing that's just so unusual. Not only is it completely unheard of to see career people resign, last time I can think of it was Trump 1.0.

And prior to that, of note, it's the Saturday Night Massacre. But the deputy attorney general does not go to court. Right.

And prior to that, of note, it's the Saturday Night Massacre. But the deputy attorney general does not go to court. Right.

Well, I'm in very good company. There are lots and lots of people on that list. I still, after all this time, I'm still an institutionalist who believes that facts and law matter since I haven't done anything wrong. It doesn't mean they can't make my life and a lot of other people's lives, you know, hell and misery.

Well, I'm in very good company. There are lots and lots of people on that list. I still, after all this time, I'm still an institutionalist who believes that facts and law matter since I haven't done anything wrong. It doesn't mean they can't make my life and a lot of other people's lives, you know, hell and misery.