David Gregory and wife knew D.C. Attorney General
District of Columbia Attorney General Irvin Nathan issued a lengthy letter today explaining the decision not to prosecute David Gregory “despite the clarity of the violation of this important law,” despite rejecting NBC’s claims of a subjective misunderstanding of the law, and despite vowing vigorous enforcement of gun laws.
Emily Miller of The Washington Times, who has written extensively about the overly aggressive enforcement of D.C. gun laws, including as to high capacity magazines, reacted as follows:
It is shameful that the politicians running the nation’s capital have sent the clear message that there are two systems of justice in the city: one for the rich and powerful and one for everyone else.
It further undermines public confidence in such decisions to find out that Nathan knew Gregory and his wife, high-powered attorney Beth Wilkinson.
Anne dug up the connection in which in 2011 Nathan and Wilkinson participated together in a charity mock trial for the Washington, D.C. Shakespeare Theatre Company (emphasis in original):
In this town full of lawyers it should be no surprise that this event sold out in 44 seconds….. The attorneys were Beth Wilkinson a partner at Paul Weiss (and wife of David Gregory, aka the Silver Fox, who was snapping pictures like a proud hubby!) and Irv Nathan, Acting Attorney General for DC. Both were hilarious and Beth looked so great in her black dress and patent leather heels, I was totally motivated to stick to my overly arduous diet.
Here’s an image from the annual report (at p. 58):
Whether this connection meant Nathan had to recuse himself is not a conclusion that people need to jump to.
What’s important is that the connection reinforces public perception, as Emily Miller put it, of one law for “the rich and powerful and one for everyone else.”
James Brinkley didn’t participate in mock trials with Irvin Nathan at the Washington, D.C. Shakespeare Theater. He participated in a real trial in court against Nathan’s office, as told by Miller several days ago, If you’re not David Gregory …:
Despite the evidence Mr. Brinkley had been legally transporting the gun, his attorney Richard Gardiner said the D.C. Office of the Attorney General “wouldn’t drop it.” …. Mr. Brinkley refused to take a plea bargain and admit guilt, so the matter went to trial Dec. 4. The judge sided with Mr. Brinkley, saying he had met the burden of proof that he was legally transporting.
Update: Former federal prosecutor questions why D.C. Atty Gen did not recuse himself from Gregory case
Comments
[...] should also be aware that Mrs. David Gregory, Beth Wilkins, is friends with the DC Attorney General, presenting a blatant conflict of interest for the DC [...]
I sent this email to the AG:
Mr Nathan,
Alan Gura thanks you.
Sincerely,
Every American Gun Owner.
Surprised? No. This is the on going rationalization of rule by the elite that does not abide by the rules they make for the rest of us. The entire MO of the left is to insist we adhere to the rules they make because they know better. Rules are for the ruled, not the rulers.
Take a look at Congress, do they abide by any of the rules they make? It’s an option for them but a requirement for us.
It became public at the beginning of Obama’s rule when he appointed Timothy Geithner as Secretary of the Treasury. What was the response when it was revealed he owed back taxes? Excuses, dismissal and then reward. And then it got worse from there. Charlie Rangel, Tom Daschle, etc. tax cheats all but no prosecution or fines. Their defense, we paid up, therefore no harm no foul. No such defense exists for the average person. How would you like to belong to a group of people who can steal (tax cheating) with impunity and when caught be allowed to give it back with the defense it was merely a mistake? What would be the response of any judge if you, the average person offered that legal defense?
Every tyranny that has existed begins with those who rule not being subject to the very rules they impose on the subjects.
[...] it seems the Gregory family and the DC Attorney General are well acquainted. This story is now re-categorized to include ‘Abuse of Power’ and [...]
I strongly object to describing this as “reinforcing public perception,” which implies that this is just a silly old “perception” and some unfortunate outlier of an event that somehow seems to get people to think that way.
In truth, it is yet another confirmation of the FACT that there are two sets of laws in ths country, one for the privileged, esp. liberal elites, which is rarely enforced, and another for just about everyone else, which is a thicket of unknowable complexity such that any prosecutor (or a pol who can influence a prosecutor) who ever takes a disliking to you can charge you with a felony and destroy your life, even if you ultimately are acquitted.
[...] If those who enforce the law are amoral, they can expect to exercise little in the way of moral authority. Yes, I’m talking to you, Irvin Nathan. [...]
People are starting to ask questions if David Gregory’s wife, Beth Wilkinson, and DC District Attorney Irving Nathan are “just friends.”
This is DC, after all.
[...] Not surprising. [...]
[...] Sotomayor’s armed guards, to Obama’s Secret Service for life, to David Gregory getting a pass for blatantly breaking the law, the message is clear — our Progressive overlords are more [...]
[...] the fact that Gregory and his wife are socially acquainted with D.C. Attorney General Irvin Nathan couldn’t have anything to do with it, right? Let’s make sure our pro-Second Amendment [...]
[...] confronted and facing charges, the attorney general decided not to press charges. It later surfaced that David Gregory was buddies with the AG. As said so excellently by Mark [...]