Brendan Sullivan: Standing Up to Power

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Academy of Achievement

Music, Sports, Arts, Self-help, Technology, Science, Humanitarian, Achievement, Film, Social Justice, Success, Society & Culture, Literature, Podcast, Politics, Military

4.6 • 943 Ratings

🗓️ 25 March 2019

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If you're a senator, a military leader, or a business executive accused of wrongdoing, Brendan Sullivan is the lawyer you probably want to call. Sullivan is considered one of the greatest trial lawyers in the country, and has represented some of the most high profile defendants of the past fifty years, including Oliver North, Ted Stevens, and the Duke lacrosse players. But he began his career defending a group of soldiers during the Vietnam War, who dared to peacefully protest conditions in the stockade. Sullivan talks here about his cases and the abuses of government power he has unearthed. And he explains why he has such a pessimistic view about the state of our judicial system. (c ) American Academy of Achievement 2019

Transcript

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0:00.0	Sometimes it's hard to look away from the spectacle of a televised congressional hearing.
0:08.0	We've had our choice of dramatic ones to pick from lately, but we want to start today's episode by revisiting one from an earlier era.
0:16.4	I saw that idea of using the Ayatollah hominese money to support the Nicaraguan freedom fighters as a good one. I still do. I don't
0:28.8	think it was wrong. I think it was a neat idea.
0:33.0	The Iran-Contrahearings transfixed America in 1987,
0:38.0	like some Cold War era Game of Thrones
0:41.0	that involved a complicated political scandal, a special... a
0:45.0	game of Thrones that involved a complicated political scandal, a special counsel, and a long list of
0:47.0	characters who testified in front of a house and Senate committee on
0:51.0	television for 41 days.
0:54.4	Chief among those testifying
0:56.0	was Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North,
0:58.6	quite a figure with his crisp Marine officers uniform and his patriotic outrage.
1:04.9	But by his side, throughout the testimony, was his lawyer, Brendan Sullivan, just as battle
1:11.4	ready in a suit and tie.
1:13.0	Sullivan famously went toe to toe with the senator chairing the proceedings,
1:18.0	Daniel Inoue. Here's a memorable bit from day 25.
1:22.0	You'll hear Senator Inouye's voice first.
1:25.0	I'm certain counsel realizes that this is not a court of law.
1:29.0	I believe me I know that.
1:31.0	And I'm certain you realize that the rules of evidence do not apply in this inquiry.
1:36.8	That I know is well.
	...

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