Ted Olson has built himself quite a sterling reputation among his legal peers, so it should come as no surprise that people are practically begging him to turn down an offer to join President Donald Trump‘s army of lawyers.
Olson, described today by The Washington Post as a “legal superstar,” is reportedly coveted by Trump as he seeks to add “top-tier talent” to his team.
The news of the offer comes a day after Trump added a flame-throwing attorney to his arsenal in Joseph diGenova.
Why Olson? He was Assistant Attorney General under Reagan and United States Solicitor General under Bush, and he’s renowned for his work on Citizens United, Bush v. Gore and overturning Proposition 8 in California.
Legal Twitter seems very upset that Olson is “said to be reviewing the offer [to join Trump] while weighing potential conflicts with his clients at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.”
“Ted Olson is a fabulous, fabulous lawyer,” Neal Katyal began, praising Olson’s “ability and carefulness.”
He also quipped that this might rule him out as a candidate to work for Trump “for any sustained period.”
Ted Olson is a fabulous, fabulous lawyer. Anyone who cares about the rule of law should be happy to have someone of Ted’s ability and carefulness involved. Those traits of course might make it impossible for him to work for Trump for any sustained period. https://t.co/jJ33IEwaS5
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 20, 2018
Matthew Miller said the prospect of Olson joining Trump is “disappointing” and that “you can’t represent [Trump] without being complicit” in tearing down institutions that uphold the rule of law.
Would be disappointing if Ted Olson joined Trump's team. As long as Trump's survival strategy depends on tearing down the institutions that uphold the rule of law, you can't represent him without being complicit.
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) March 20, 2018
Maybe I'm horribly wrong but I just can't see Ted Olson agreeing to join the President's legal team unless he has complete and unequivocal authority over decision-making and legal strategy. And he would want an "open kimono" discussion with POTUS. Alone.
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) March 20, 2018
There are already rumblings, though, that Olson is not going to accept the offer. Olson has denied Trump before.
The firm where he is a partner, interestingly enough, represents Fusion GPS, the source of the infamous Trump dossier.
Source tells me that Ted Olson is not prepared to join the Trump legal team and that his firm won't be involved in the representation. Worth noting that the firm, Gibson Dunn, already represents Fusion GPS
— Eric Tucker (@etuckerAP) March 20, 2018
Update, 1:25 p.m.:
It appears Legal Twitter has gotten its wish.
I can confirm that @gibsondunn and Theodore B. Olson will not be representing @realDonaldTrump
— Ted Boutrous (@BoutrousTed) March 20, 2018
[Image source: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]