Jon Sale Is Proud to Take Part in 'Legal History' Again, This Time for Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani and Sale have remained close friends since their days as New York University law classmates and federal prosecutors in New York.
October 02, 2019 at 02:07 PM
4 minute read
Miami attorney Jon Sale is intrigued by the prospects of being a part of history for a second time in presidential impeachment actions.
The co-chair of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough's white-collar and government investigations practice has been retained by longtime friend Rudy Giuliani in the congressional investigations targeting President Donald Trump.
In his first exposure to impeachment work, Sale was fired along with his boss, Archibald Cox, in the Nixon-era Saturday Night Massacre.
"I'm proud to take it on," he said of the defense for Trump's personal attorney. "This is the second time in my life that I have a chance to take part in something that is legal history."
Giuliani and Sale were New York University law classmates and went on to work together as federal prosecutors in New York. They remained close friends.
"I played a role in his presidential campaign. We've been very close personally and professionally," Sale said Tuesday in a telephone interview. In 2008, he was an unpaid senior counselor on Giuliani's campaign.
Before going into private practice, Sale was a federal prosecutor in New York and Connecticut and chief assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Florida.
The Brooklyn native is known for being buttoned down, low key, diplomatic and unflappable—all skills he will need representing Giuliani in the Washington spotlight.
For now, he will focus on a congressional subpoena response due Oct. 15.
The subpoena poses "a lot of complicated issues involving questions of privilege and constitutional issues, which I'm just beginning to analyze," Sale said. "We have to analyze these issues and decide on a response and advise my client, who will then decide as to how to respond."
Details about the scope of Giuliani's role in foreign affairs expanded Wednesday with Ukraine's former president saying he discussed investments with Giuliani in 2017. The Associated Press reported they discussed "political support and investment" but nothing else, and Poroshenko didn't elaborate.
Sale acknowledges the breadth of the impeachment investigation stretches well beyond a standard government probe.
"In addition to legal strategy, you have to have real-world common sense. The whole world is watching," he said. "It's not like it's a grand jury matter where it's all under seal, and and it's a proceeding involving an inquiry with an impact of the president of the United States. That's an extremely serious matter."
While just starting his representation, Sale said he doesn't see a conflict between Trump and Giuliani.
"To the best of my knowledge, as of now there are no conflicts," Sale said. "I'm not in touch with the president. I'm only in touch with Mr. Giuliani."
Heavy travel to Washington and New York won't be a change for Sale, because that's what he's accustomed to. Squeezing everything into his schedule is more of an issue.
"One of the challenges is I am so busy," he said. "My practice has never been so booming. The only hesitancy I have is having enough time to be able to do it."
Asked if he would recruit others at Nelson Mullins to work with him, he said that was up to Giuliani.
"If he does, I welcome it. I've never had a problem with bringing in good lawyers to work together, but so far everything is happening so fast. I'm sure he wouldn't do it without consulting me."
Sale said his wife and Nelson Mullins colleague Jayne Weintraub is too busy to get involved. She represents red-carpet photographer Bruce Weber in New York in a civil lawsuit claiming he exploited or sexually assaulted five male models.
Sale, an avid baseball collector, proves his sophistication by estimating the value of a baseball autographed by six-time All-Star and power hitter Jose Canseco. Weintraub landed probation for the retired baseball player after a fight at a Miami Beach nightclub.
Back to his new client, Sale has strenuously denied Giuliani did anything illegal and is enthusiastic about defending his client in an unfriendly forum.
"To the extent it's a challenge, the more I will enjoy it, and it will be a challenge because it's so partisan," he said.
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