I am not representing the president in the fund-raising case, and there is no conflict. . . . These lawyers are just carping. These people just don't know the facts. Two legal ethics experts and several white-collar lawyers agreed that they saw no ethical conflict in Bennett's representation of both men, as long as he has investigated the issue, talked it out with both clients and gotten their approval. I don't see it here.
Lawyers deal with such conflicts all the time.
In that case, the issue is more stark because both clients need representation in the same matter. The Clinton-Ickes issue is more muddied. This is not the first time that Bennett's representation of two Washington powerhouses has created controversy. Bennett began representing the president in the sexual harassment case in May 1994. At the time, Bennett was representing House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, who was doing battle with the Justice Department over an impending felony indictment.