Fred Baron is a brilliant attorney, a savvy strategist, and, up until recently, a fun and engaging interview. But ever since the John Edwards scandal leapt from the The National Enquirer to The New York Times, he's been unable to speak the English language without eliciting howls of laughter, if not outright disbelief. Here Texas Watchdog catalogs some of Baron's more curious comments along with our assessment of their veracity:
The Statement:
“I made a decision on my own, without talking to Edwards or anybody, to try to help them move to a community to try to get away from those folks.”
Dallas Morning News Aug. 9
Believability Factor:
Very Low
Are we really supposed to believe that Baron shuttled two people close to Edwards across the country-- one of whom was alleged to have been the candidate’s mistress, the other of whom claimed to have knocked up the mistress? And Baron didn’t talk about this with anyone? That’s what we thought too.
The Statement:
Baron says he is raising money for Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
Dallas Morning News Aug. 9
Believability Factor:
None
Baron later called the paper and said that, well actually, he has no official role in the Obama campaign. He added that he was merely at a meeting of trial attorneys in Colorado where they discussed how the Democratic nominee can win the White House.
The Statement:
Initially says he did not know how Rielle Hunter and Andrew Young wound up with their attorneys.
New York Times Aug. 15
Believability Factor:
None
In fact, the two attorneys who popped up by Hunter and Young’s side know Baron well. One was his defense attorney in a long-running civil case, while the other once partnered up with Baron on asbestos litigation.
The Statement:
“I have a brief recollection of giving someone some cash. My assumption is I loaned some small amount of money to both of them."
New York Times Aug. 15
Believability Factor:
Low
Imagine this scenario for a moment: You’re the national finance chair for John Edwards, a top-tier presidential hopeful, and there’s an eccentric, pregnant blonde who allegedly had an affair with the candidate. Meanwhile, a campaign aide is claiming paternity. Don’t you think you’d have more than a “brief recollection” about how you paid both of them to flee from a tabloid in hot pursuit?
The Statement:
After being told by Edwards a few weeks before the scandal broke that the former candidate had an affair with Hunter, “I was shocked.”
Texas Lawyer Aug. 12
Believability Factor:
Low
It's possible, if still far-fetched, that Baron merely paid for Hunter and Young to move across the country without realizing that Edwards was somehow a part of the love triangle. Then again, why would he have cared about their travails in the first place if he didn't think that Edwards was involved? It's not like an affair of two obscure campaign aides could taint a presidential run. Right?
For the full story on Baron, click here.
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