By The Prowler on 7.6.07 @ 4:58PM
Did Fred Thompson have a pro-abortion client back in 1991?
The Washington Prowler column has learned that the Los
Angeles Times intends to publish a story that would attempt to
link former Sen. Fred Thompson to a
Washington-based, pro-abortion organization. Thompson, through a
spokesman, is said to go on the record in the story as having no
recollection of ever doing work for the organization in question
during a period in 1991 when the first Bush administration was in
power.
During that time, Thompson, was "of counsel" at the Arent Fox
law firm in Washington, D.C. (meaning he was not a partner, but was
provided an office for his use, in part because Thompson's own
practice was based in Nashville, TN), and was used by the firm's
partners as a "draw" for clients and potential clients, according
to a source at the firm familiar with the arrangements with
Thompson and others with the "of counsel" designation.
"You'd get partners walking people into Thompson's office all
the time, none of whom had any business dealings with Thompson,
because he wasn't a partner with the firm," says the firm source.
"But having Thompson there during a Republican administration
helped with business."
Arent Fox is a well-known, heavily Democrat firm with strong
ties to the Clinton administration.
In the story that the L.A. Times will report out within
the next 24 to 48 hours, the paper will claim that Thompson was
"hired" by the National Family Planning and Reproductive Rights
Association, whose director, Judith DeSarno, was
acquainted with a then-partner at Arent Fox, former Congressman
Michael Barnes. In fact, DeSarno worked as a
senior aide to Barnes during his time in Congress. According to
Arent Fox insiders, Barnes, who now directs the Brady Center to
Prevent Gun Violence, and DeSarno are both well-known left-wing
activists. Most recently, both were active against the nominations
of John Roberts and Samuel Alito
to the Supreme Court. Thompson was an adviser to Roberts, and
served as his Senate "sherpa" during the confirmation process.
As well, as Thompson has continued to rise in the polls,
left-wing groups have been looking for ways to ding Thompson,
hitting him on lobbying stories for weeks, to little effect.
According to sources at a rival paper, the L.A. Times
has been working with the pro-abortion group for some time on a
Thompson lobbying story, but with little success until now. "We
started hearing about it several days ago," says a Washington-based
reporter for another West Coast paper. "These abortion groups have
been pushing reporters to look into Thompson's past, but haven't
had much to go on. You talk to these guys and you can tell that he
makes them nervous. They know how he voted and where he
stands."
Thompson was listed as an "enemy" by Planned Parenthood during
his time in the Senate. He was twice endorsed by the National Right
Life Committee, and had a 100 percent voting record on life issues
during his time in the Senate. He has publicly stated his
opposition to Roe v. Wade, federal funding for abortion
and embryonic stem cell research.
"This is a nothing story," says the leader of a pro-life
organization based in Washington, D.C. "Lawyers do this all the
time, and besides, this was 1991. Thompson's life record is
perfect. Folks on our side shouldn't get suckered by this kind of
crap."
topics:
Business, Abortion, Law, Supreme Court
