Every lawyer’s mother told them to wear clean underwear as they left the house in case they end up in an ambulance (presumably that they were chasing). In a rather curious moment, David Remes, a partner with Covington & Burling, showed the importance of this age-old maternal advice when he dropped his pants in front of an audience in Yemen to make a point about the mistreatment of detainees. It is not clear how the barrister burlesque went over in Yemen.
In the photo below, Remes lays bare his case for the audience. Remes insists that he was only trying to break up the “normalcy that has settled over the normal miserable conditions of confinement.” By stripping, he said, he “wanted to drive home the degree of humiliation” that his client must bear. Next speech, he is expected to self-water-board himself and appear with a dog leash.
The problem was no doubt the women who tried to put single dollar bills in his tiddy whities and then demanded the full monty.
Personally, as a I get older, I write little notes to myself with such reminders as “don’t forget your pants” and “keep pants on in court.” But that is just me.
For the picture and the story, click here.
I agree that his argument would have been stronger, if only he had left his pants on.
Oh boy, a picture. Oh. Oh NO!
Maybe it’s just that picture, but he looks a little too enthusiastic to be arguing that he’s totally humiliated by what he’s doing.
Just what the Yemenis needed another American lawyer leading them in that now famous line: “If it doesn’t fit, you must strip!”
I’m also reminded of David Niven’s famous quip at the 46th Oscar ceremonies when he was “streaked” by a naked man rushing behind him on the stage. Never at a loss for words, the fine British actor deadpanned:
“Isn’t it fascinating to think, that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life, is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings!”
I think what he did was brave. He risked public ridicule which he got, and is a big thing for a lawyer, but he did it as an almost empathetic gesture, to draw attention to the absolute inhumanity of “de-humanizing” ones prisoners.
Say what you want about the guy but he’s got big ones.
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And unfortunately I can now say that conclusively.