Madoff scandal: Interview with 'devil's advocate'
In exclusive interview with Calcalist, Attorney Ira Lee Sorkin, who is representing Bernard Madoff who confessed to major Ponzi scheme that harmed many Jewish charities, establishments, says it's his job to 'represent hated, despised people'
Former NASDAQ exchange chairman Bernard Madoff, who confessed last month to one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in history, is seen by many Jews to be the devil incarnate. Madoff was considered one of the American Jewish community's dignitaries, until it came to light that he had betrayed the trust of the community's rich.
Anyone who had invested in Madoff lost it all when the case was blown open at the end of 2008, and many Jewish charities and other bodies were seriously hurt by the affair. So it's no wonder that many in the US' Jewish community view Madoff's lawyer, Attorney Ira Lee Sorkin, who also happens to be Jewish, as the "devil's advocate."
Yedioth Ahronoth's economic section Calcalist caught up with Sorkin for a special interview, in which the lawyer shared what it's like to be representing one of the most hated men in American economy.
Death threats
"I had received a lot of anti-Semitic e-mails, cursing me for being Jewish," Sorkin said, and quoted one of the worst e-mails he had received that said: "As one Jew to another, I deeply regret that the Sorkin family did not perish in the Nazi death camps.”.Sorkin said he had also received some death threats: "They said I should die." The lawyer said someone had also used his name to carry out some kind of fraud: "It's hard to say where they came from. People said they are Jews but I don't know if they are Jews."
When asked about his feelings as a Jew representing another Jew who is considered to be one of the worst criminals to hurt the Jewish community, Sorkin said he was used to hearing such claims against him.
"The law says that you are entitled to be represented by a lawyer, and every Jew should be proud of that," he said, "Fortunately, we live in a country where justice is supposed to be color blind. All citizens are entitled to their civil rights. We serve a very important role in the system. Our ability to protect people who don't do bad things can only happen if we protect people who do bad things."
No hesitations whatsoever
When asked if he had any hesitations after being asked to represent Madoff, Sorkin said: "He called me the day he was arrested; I know him, he knew me, I met him through my law firm. The FBI arrested him and he needed help.
"I had no hesitations at all. None whatsoever. My role is to help people. If I was a doctor I would treat him. It's the same with lawyers. There are Israeli doctors who treat Palestinian terrorists. No one complains about that."
Asked if he understood why Madoff's victims were so angry at him, Sorkin said: "I suppose they are angry because they don't understand the role of a defense lawyer. I know he hurt a lot of Jews and Jewish charities. I know a lot of people who are his victims. I understand them; I said right from the beginning it is a great tragedy."
Ethical conflict?
Sorkin could have easily been one of Madoff's victims, as his old firm was invested with the financer, as were his parents until the account closed following his mother's death.When asked if he thought the anger directed at him would have been any different if he wasn't Jewish, Sorkin said: "That's a good question, I really don't know; I think there would probably be less anger. But our role as defense lawyers is to represent people who are hated, despised, disliked. That is the role we play."
At the start of March, Sorkin showed up for the Manhattan courthouse hearing with Madoff, who pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him. Madoff was imprisoned and is now awaiting sentencing on June 16. He could receive up to 150 years in prison.
Goal is to reduce punishment
"Now Madoff is awaiting his sentencing on June 16," Sorkin said. "The goal now is to reduce the punishment, to deal with the sentencing, and also (reduce) the amount of money that the government wants back."Asked about Madoff's feelings now, Sorkin said: "When he pleaded guilty, he said he is very very sorry and regrets all the pain he caused."
Sorkin said it was a very difficult case to handle, since "before I came to represent (Madoff) he confessed to his son and the FBI, so he admitted what happened before I began to represent him, I can't answer as to what advice I would have given if I began representing him before".
