Job Inquiry -- U.S. Trade Representative -- 1997

August 21, 1997
3801 Connecticut Avenue, NW #136
Washington, DC 20008-4530

Hon. Charlene Barshefsky
United States Trade Representative
Winder Building
600 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20508-0002

RE: Employment Opportunities - Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Dear Ambassador Barshefsky:

I am an attorney, and am licensed to practice in Pennsylvania. I qualify for employment as an attorney at the Office of U.S. Trade Representative.

I am writing to inquire about present and anticipated employment opportunities for lawyers at the Office of Trade Representative, as well as any information pertinent to the specific hiring procedures of the Office. Any information you can provide will be useful to me.

Incidentally, I believe I have a duty to advise you of the following facts about my background.

During the period March 1988 to October 1991 I was employed as a legal assistant in the Washington, DC office of the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld ("Akin Gump"). Attorney managers at Akin Gump terminated my employment effective October 29, 1991 upon determining, in consultation with a psychiatrist, that a complaint of harassment I had lodged against several co-workers was attributable to a psychiatric symptom ("ideas of reference") prominent in the psychotic disorders and typically associated with a risk of violent behavior. See Freedman v. D.C. Dept. of Human Rights, D.C. Superior Court no. MPA 95-14 (final order issued June 10, 1996) (name of state court judge redacted at the implicit direction of the Justice Department). In the period immediately after my job termination senior Akin Gump managers determined that it was advisable to secure the office of my direct supervisor against a possible homicidal assault, which it was feared I might commit. Freedman v. D.C. Dept. of Human Rights, D.C. Superior Court no. MPA 95-14, Record on Appeal at 41.

In pleadings filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court in May 1996, the District of Columbia Office of Corporation Counsel (Charles F.C. Ruff, Esq.) affirmed that Akin Gump personnel had genuine concerns that I might have had plans to procure firearms for an unlawful purpose and possessed the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm or commit murder. Mr. Ruff currently serves as chief White House Counsel to President Clinton (tel: 202 456 1414).

The Federal Protective Service (Jerry McGill, S.A., tel: 202 690-9315) advised me on August 13, 1997 that the Service does not consider me armed and dangerous, notwithstanding pleadings filed in the D.C. Court of Appeals (no. 96-CV-961) on July 25, 1997 by the D.C. Office of Corporation Counsel (Charles L. Reischel, Esq., Deputy Corporation Counsel) affirming that concerns that I was armed and dangerous that arose during my tenure at Akin Gump were genuine. The determination made by the Federal Protective Service that I am not currently armed and dangerous was an informed one, based on information currently available. See letter dated August 12, 1997 from Gary Freedman to Jerry McGill, S.A. (copy attached).

The Federal Protective Service has directed me, under the implied threat of criminal prosecution, that I am forbidden to have any communications with any personnel at the U.S. International Trade Commission, including General Counsel Lyn Schlitt, Esq. A letter that I wrote to General Counsel Lyn Schlitt, dated July 9, 1997, that referred to concerns of my former employer, Akin Gump, that I was armed and dangerous--concerns affirmed as genuine by the District of Columbia Office of Corporation Counsel in pleadings filed in the D.C. Superior Court (no. MPA 95-14) and in the D.C. Court of Appeals (no. 96-CV-961)--prompted General Counsel Schlitt to direct the Federal Protective Service to advise me against any future communications. As a consequence, I am unable to file a job application with the U.S. International Trade Commission. I hold a masters degree in international trade law awarded by the American University in December 1984, and interned at the USITC during the period January 1984 to June 1984. Coincidentally, my supervising attorney at the USITC during my internship, Jack Simmons, Esq., is currently employed as an attorney in the appellate division of the D.C. Office of Corporation Counsel, which office affirmed that the fears that I was armed and dangerous that arose during my tenure at Akin Gump were, in fact, genuine.

I have been under investigation by the U.S. Secret Service as a potential security risk to President Clinton, and was interrogated at the Washington Field Office by Special Agent Philip C. Leadroot (tel: 202 435-5100) as recently as February 1996, about 18 months ago. Questioning by Mr. Leadroot centered on the issue of presidential assassination. During one of my meetings with Mr. Leadroot, he encouraged me to seek employment, and expressly told me that I need to engage actively in a job search. My present job inquiry to you is consistent with the express direction of a special agent of the U.S. Secret Service.

You probably know that the founding partner of Akin Gump, Ambassador Robert S. Strauss, served as U.S. Trade Representative in the Carter Administration. I am sure that, as a courtesy, Ambassador Strauss will clarify the concerns of his partners and employees that arose during my tenure at his firm that I was potentially violent, and possibly armed and extremely dangerous.

Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Gary Freedman, Esq.