In 2019, then-presidential candidate Joe Biden criticized incumbent President Donald Trump for his use of outside legal counsel, expressing concern about potential conflicts of interest. However, a 2021 report from The Washington Post indicated that Biden himself has had a long history of utilizing a similar arrangement.
Throughout his political career, Biden relied on attorney Robert Bauer, a partner at the law firm Perkins Coie, for legal advice and counsel. Perkins Coie has been involved in multiple high-profile political events, such