Staff Reports
A Democratic congressional candidate’s past is making waves, and not in a good way. Kirsten Engel, who is vying for a seat in Arizona’s competitive 6th Congressional District, once found herself on the wrong end of a judicial smackdown. The self-proclaimed champion of the environment and the rule of law, Engel was scolded by a panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for deceptive billing practices as a lawyer for an environmental group. This is the same individual who lectures voters about the importance of abiding by the law. Irony, it seems, has decided to have a field day here.
Back in 1993, Engel was working for the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, which is now known as Earthjustice. Her legal acumen was called into serious question when judges deemed her billing practices “intolerably excessive.” The three-judge panel, which included Ruth Bader Ginsburg before she became a Supreme Court Justice, thoroughly blasted Engel for overbilling the federal government. They described her behavior as a “serious transgression” and established that her inflated fees were not only out of line but also harmful to the public fisc. Surely, Engel didn’t expect that pesky little detail to resurface as she makes an attempt to take the congressional seat.
Engel’s campaign has already waded into turbulent waters, particularly after a flurry of comments on her moral high ground regarding trust in the legal system. Just a few months ago, she chimed in on the outrage of former President Donald Trump being charged with felony counts, claiming that no one is above the law. It appears that Engel will need to practice what she preaches, considering that she herself once fancied billing the government for what judges deemed “imaginary” legal services. Perhaps it’s time for Engel to take an honest accounting of her own past before trying to lecture anyone else on legality.
Despite Engel’s denials, her behavior raises eyebrows. Her campaign manager tried spinning the narrative by stating that Engel was merely a junior employee under a challenging boss. In a bizarre twist, Engel’s team insists that she wasn’t responsible for the dubious billing practices and was merely following orders. While it might resonate with some voters, it won’t do much to quell the rumblings of doubt regarding Engel’s credibility. It’s difficult to trust someone who plays the blame game while simultaneously presenting themselves as the crusader of lawfulness.
Democratic House candidate overbilled taxpayers for ‘imaginary’ fees as lawyer: Court records https://t.co/IUo8zYk864
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 27, 2024
In a rather embarrassing turn of events, Engel allegedly spent an astounding amount of time—over 72 hours—drafting two letters to the EPA regarding attorneys’ fees. With a legal background that purportedly equips her to handle complicated situations, one has to wonder why she seemingly needed almost a full work week just to do research. This level of inefficiency does not inspire confidence in her ability to represent the fine folks of Arizona. Voters are likely to remember when their candidate chuckles about the importance of accountability while standing knee-deep in a swamp of her own shady dealings.
As Engel continues to navigate her campaign, the resurfacing of her dubious legal past might just add to the growing list of reasons why conservative Americans should remain skeptical. The idea of an environmental lawyer touting the rule of law while having faced judicial criticism for inflating bills? That sounds like the plot of a poorly written political satire. With Rep. Juan Ciscomani ready to engage in battle, Engel may find her past hard to shake as she rolls out her campaign the way a magician reveals a disappearing act—only to find it has vanished right before her eyes.
