Kamala Harris, the US Vice President, is preparing to challenge former President Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 elections. Her secret weapon appears to be a high-profile lawyer, Karen Dunn, who is also defending Google in a major antitrust case that could significantly impact the tech company's future. Dunn, a partner at the prestigious Paul, Weiss law firm, has been tasked with coaching Harris for the upcoming debate against Trump. However, Dunn is also leading Google's defense in a lawsuit brought by the Biden administration, alleging that the company illegally monopolized the online advertising market. This dual role has raised concerns among antitrust experts, who argue that it is an unacceptable conflict of interest for the Vice President to be receiving advice from a lawyer representing a company that her own administration is suing.
The individual in question has a background in legal cases and has prepared Democratic candidates for debates since 2008. They recently delivered Google's opening statement in a high-stakes trial, just days before a highly anticipated presidential debate. Shortly after, they rushed to join the debate prep team of another Democratic candidate. This person has a history of moving between high-profile legal work and Democratic politics, having started as a legislative correspondent and later worked on several presidential campaigns.
Hillary Clinton described Karen Dunn as someone who combines tough love. As a lawyer, Dunn pays close attention to details, but she also has the ability to see the bigger picture in her communication work, which is a rare quality. Dunn has represented major tech companies like Apple and Uber, and she even helped prepare Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for a congressional hearing. In 2021, Dunn won an important lawsuit against organizers of the 2017 Charlottesville far-right rally. However, Dunn's current challenge may be her most high-profile yet. As she argues Google's case in court, her advice to Harris played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of a debate that has been pivotal in the 2024 race. With the Department of Justice seeking to break up Google's ad business, the stakes are very high. Jeff Hauser of the Revolving Door Project said that Dunn's influence in Harris' world has likely increased after the debate, which could be concerning if she ever needs to negotiate a potential settlement with the Justice Department under Harris.
The text suggests that Kamala Harris is unlikely to take on big technology companies. House Republicans are seeking explanations from the U.S. Attorney General about how he is addressing potential conflicts of interest. Neither Google nor Harris's campaign have responded to the situation yet. Currently, Dunn, a political strategist, continues her work, and she believes that the secret to a successful debate performance is confronting your opponent in a way that puts them on the defensive and gives you an advantage, ideally at the other person's expense.
