Eyebrows were raised among Democratic officials and activists on Jan. 21 when Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) announced her 2020 presidential nomination bid and
listed Marc Elias as her campaign’s general counsel.
Elias, head of the Perkins Coie LLP law firm’s political law practice, is among the Democratic Party’s top campaign finance experts and a recognized power-player at the highest levels.
Elias and his firm currently represent every major Democratic Party committee, including the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Democratic Governors Association, as well as numerous individual senators and representatives.
But there is a potentially devastating downside that comes with Elias for Harris, especially in the event she wins her party’s nomination. He’s at the center of the biggest political scandal in decades, and not in a good way.
It was Elias who, as the Clinton campaign’s attorney of record, used campaign funds to retain the infamous opposition research firm Fusion GPS to compile what became known as the Steele dossier on President Donald Trump, according to the Washington Post.
The dossier was compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele, based in part on information he gleaned from individuals close to Russian intelligence agencies.
Elias also brings baggage that could hurt Harris as a result of his firm’s role in the DNC’s response to being hacked, allegedly by Russian interests. Instead of asking the FBI to investigate the hack, DNC officials reportedly relied upon a private cyber-security company recommended by the Elias firm.
Finally, Elias represented Google and Facebook in their 2011 requests to the Federal Election Commission for an exemption from a requirement that digital political ads purchased via the two tech giants include disclaimers revealing who paid for them.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/looking-to-2020-kamala-harris-hires-heavy-hitter-lawyer-involved-with-russian-dossier_2775250.html