I have expressed some qualms over Judge Sullivan naming John Gleeson as the court’s amicus on the crazy Flynn situation. But today there is a new player on the pitch, Beth Wilkinson.
Judge Sullivan has engaged a hired gun.
Folks need to understand the Yoda like move Emmet Sullivan made in hiring Beth Wilkinson.
First off, she is an absolutely fantastic advocate and tough as hell.
Second, she has serious DOJ cred.
Third, she still has major friends at Paul Weiss, and that counts below the surface.
Fourth, Brett Kavanaugh may well owe his Supreme Court seat to her.
Fifth, her husband is David Gregory, the former NBC guy and now senior political guy at CNN. That is some media contact potential whether direct or indirect.
Also, again, she is really kick ass. Beth Wilkinson is a serious player, and a killer advocate. Judge Emmet Sullivan is not going quietly into the night. I actually thought that, given the short response time the DC Circuit ordered, Sullivan and his clerks might do the response themselves. Obviously they will still have major input, but this battle is joined, and in a very big way.