The Lawyers With Trump Ties Who Are on Harvard's Side - WSJ
As Harvard University prepares for what could be an epic showdown with the White House, it does so represented by conservative lawyers with ties to President Trump. Harvard sent a letter Monday to the Trump administration saying the university “will not surrender its independence,” a rare example of a major institution choosing to push back against the president.
The letter was signed by a legal team with sterling conservative credentials. William Burck was hired in January as an outside adviser to the Trump Organization. Robert Hur, as a special counsel investigating former President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, memorably called the former president a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
The ball is now in Harvard’s court in the fight, which centers on antisemitism and academic freedom: The university could sue to stop the administration’s actions or continue negotiations to reach a deal. Billions of dollars of federal grants and contracts are at stake.
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Having a team of conservative lawyers could help signal to the public that Harvard’s fight transcends partisan divides. Legal experts say the team’s Trump connections potentially could help the university make peace with the administration. Burck in particular has emerged as an emissary for clients under fire during Trump 2.0. A former New York federal prosecutor and co-managing partner of litigation powerhouse Quinn Emanuel, he specializes in defending clients in white-collar cases and government investigations, charging about $3,000 an hour. He is a Republican insider, and he has advised Trump associates including the political strategist Steve Bannon.
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The legal team began having sporadic conversations, but not serious negotiations with the task force, which was driving the demands to the university. The lawyers went back and forth with the task-force members, discussing potential concessions such as a mask ban and winding down of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in admissions and faculty hiring. Things quickly devolved starting late Friday, however, when Harvard received a five-page letter detailing the administration’s demands. Burck and Hur drafted the university’s response.
“Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration,” the letter said. Shortly after, the federal task force to combat antisemitism froze more than $2 billion in research grants.
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