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Notorious “birther” attorney Larry Klayman is being investigated by the State Bar.
Although Arizona State Bar spokesman Rick DeBruhl confirms to New Times that the investigation exists, he says there are no public documents associated with the case at this time.
See also:
–Larry Klayman Sues New Times, Is Really Weird
–Judge: Klayman “Inappropriately Touched” Kids
–David Burnell Smith Teams Up With Larry Klayman in Fight of Arpaio Recall
–Klayman Asks If Joe Arpaio Recall Chairman Is a “Homo” Who “Want[s] My Nuts”
The investigation seems to stem from Klayman’s lawsuit to stop the effort to recall Sheriff Joe Arpaio, although we don’t know exactly what the scope of the investigation is.
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Sources say that the investigation may be related to Klayman’s application to appear pro hac vice, which allowed him to work on the case without being licensed to practice law in Arizona.
Klayman’s application was approved by Maricopa County Judge Michael Herrod, the husband of right-wing powerhouse lobbyist Cathi Herrod. Judge Herrod eventually recused himself from the case, as Herrod used to be a partner at the law firm that has represented Arpaio in several matters, including the current racial-profiling case, Melendres v. Arpaio.
Klayman was arguing that the recall effort was “illegal,” despite the law being fairly clear that it wasn’t, and he also accidentally sent an e-mail to the chairman of the Arpaio recall organization, asking if he’s a “homo” who “want[s] my nuts.”
However, Klayman’s involvement in this case is somehow not as bizarre as some of his other antics.
Klayman, the founder of Judicial Watch, has sued an incredible amount of people, ranging from the Clinton administration to his own mother, and has also filed a lawsuit against New Times, claiming “defamation.”
A New Times report earlier this year cited an appellate court ruling from Ohio, a public record, affirming a magistrate judge’s finding that Klayman “inappropriately touched” his own children.
That lawsuit apparently hasn’t satisfied Klayman, who just yesterday announced that he’s suing that magistrate judge who made the finding. Klayman thinks the judge — “who is a liberal Democrat and a Jew,” according to Klayman’s press release on the matter — made the ruling just to “destroy him in the media.”
As for the current Bar investigation, we’ll keep you updated as the details come out. Klayman’s been in trouble with a Bar association before, as he was publicly reprimanded by the Florida Bar in 2011 for taking money from a client, and never doing any work.
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Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.
