From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: fhelmsing@joneswalker.com <fhelmsing@joneswalker.com>
Cc: Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>; mendheimforalabama@gmail.com <mendheimforalabama@gmail.com>; shannon.isbell@wbrc.com <shannon.isbell@wbrc.com>; Susana Schuler <susana.schuler@hearst.com>; brendan.kirby@fox10tv.com <brendan.kirby@fox10tv.com>; jama.killingsworth@waff.com <jama.killingsworth@waff.com>; Mike Wright <mwright@waaytv.com>; rmartin@cbs42.com <rmartin@cbs42.com>; Baylor Long <blong@hearst.com>; dwingard@wsfa.com <dwingard@wsfa.com>; news@mynbc15.com <news@mynbc15.com>; randy.merrow@fox10tv.com <randy.merrow@fox10tv.com>; gmcdonald@waka.com <gmcdonald@waka.com>; comments@abc3340.com <comments@abc3340.com>; newstip@abc3340.com <newstip@abc3340.com>; wvtm13@wvtm.com <wvtm13@wvtm.com>; dlamb@cbs42.com <dlamb@cbs42.com>; sdiorio@wvua23.com <sdiorio@wvua23.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 06:31:54 PM CDT
Subject: The condition of the U.S. Department of Justice and its FBI
Dear Mr. Helmsing:
I am writing this email to you in your capacity as President of the Alabama State Bar and separately connected with your law practice specialization.
For almost two years I have been trying to badger the Alabama State Bar, local bar associations, law school deans, prosecutors, Alabama Supreme Court justices, and others in the Alabama legal profession, about Trump and the rule of law. I believe ASB Executive Director Terri Lovell knows well of my badgering.
I have some targeted questions I would like to ask you connected with your law practice specialization.
The description of you on your law firm website says, "With nearly three decades of experience representing individuals and businesses in federal and state courts and before government agencies, [Fred Helmsing] has developed a keen understanding of the stakes facing executives, employees, companies, and other clients whose reputations, livelihoods, assets, and even freedom may be threatened by law enforcement investigations and prosecution and other high-profile disputes."
I would like to assume you agree that there are two very important, adversarial sides regarding the criminal law, to wit, the government having an important investigative and prosecutorial function regarding the criminal law and citizens having important legal and other rights in the defense of themselves against the government.
Further, I would like to assume you agree society needs a "proper" balancing between the two sides, and the two sides, including yourself on the defense side, should endeavor cooperatively to assist society in having such a "proper" balance.
My targeted questions are these:
1. How do you rate how the "balance" between the two adversarial sides of the government and citizens defending against the government has been struck during the course of your three decades of experience on the defense side?
2. Are there Presidents, United States Attorneys General and/or FBI directors whom you consider particularly exemplary in how they have contributed to society having a "proper" balance between the two adversarial sides of the government and citizens defending against the government, or, alternatively, whom you consider particularly detrimental to society having a "proper" balance between the two adversarial sides?
3. What effect does "politicization" of the Department of Justice and/or the FBI have relative to society having a "proper" balance between the two adversarial sides of the government and citizens defending themselves against the government?
4. If "politicization" of the Department of Justice and/or the FBI has a detrimental effect on the society having the "proper" balance in question, please say whether and to what extent you think there was such politicization under Biden and whether and to what extent you think there was and/or is such politicization in the first Trump presidency and/or the second Trump presidency?
I have been very disappointed by the lack of responsiveness of the Alabama State Bar, local bar associations, law school deans, prosecutors, Alabama Supreme Court justices, and others in the Alabama legal profession, about Trump and the rule of law.
I have also been disappointed by the lack of interest of Alabama TV stations in the foregoing lack of responsiveness of the Alabama legal profession regarding Trump and the rule of law.
Probably the TV stations will not have an interest in such answers you give or do not give to my targeted questions to help evaluate the current condition of the U.S. Department of Justice and its FBI.
Nonetheless I am hopefully copying my Alabama TV station contacts on this email.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook
(for filing in Citizens Acting to End the Trump Presidency: The condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI)
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: purplepeopleresistance@gmail.com <purplepeopleresistance@gmail.com>; hivealabama@gmail.com <hivealabama@gmail.com>; shelbycountydems65@gmail.com <shelbycountydems65@gmail.com>; NAYoungDems@Gmail.com <nayoungdems@gmail.com>; Blueprintalabama Info <info@blueprintalabama.com>; Membership Coordination <membership@birminghamindivisible.org>; alabamademocraticchairs@gmail.com <alabamademocraticchairs@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2025 at 06:14:58 PM CDT
Subject: The condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI
To Alabama Trump resistance groups:
In my continuing badgering of the Alabama legal profession about Trump and the rule of law, yesterday I sent an email to the Alabama State Bar President, Mobile lawyer Frederick G. Helmsing Jr.
My email availed of Mr. Helmsing's law practice specialization as a white-collar defense attorney to ask hm targeted questions seeking to help assess the condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI under both Biden and Trump.
My email is at Citizens Acting to End the Trump Presidency: The condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI.
I continue to urge Alabama Trump resistance groups to undertake organized, targeted emailing to grow Alabama public opinion against Trump.
Thank you.
Rob Shattuck
(for filing in Citizens Acting to End the Trump Presidency: "New poll delivers troubling signs for Democrats" and in Citizens Acting to End the Trump Presidency: The condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI)
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: kyle@westalabamachamber.com <kyle@westalabamachamber.com>; susan.wilhelm@finance.alabama.gov <susan.wilhelm@finance.alabama.gov>; djblakley@ua.edu <djblakley@ua.edu>; info@innovatealabama.org <info@innovatealabama.org>; justice.smyth@tcoeda.com <justice.smyth@tcoeda.com>; Steve Ammons <sammons@birminghambusinessalliance.com>; director@homewoodchamber.org <director@homewoodchamber.org>; chamber@vestaviahills.org <chamber@vestaviahills.org>; rfigh@montgomerychamber.com <rfigh@montgomerychamber.com>; chamberinfo@shelbychamber.net <chamberinfo@shelbychamber.net>; pelhamchamberofcommerce@gmail.com <pelhamchamberofcommerce@gmail.com>; sandra@leedsareachamber.com <sandra@leedsareachamber.com>; nhewston@mobilechamber.com <nhewston@mobilechamber.com>; cfranklin@bcatoday.org <cfranklin@bcatoday.org>; wnewman@bcatoday.org <wnewman@bcatoday.org>
Cc: fhelmsing@joneswalker.com <fhelmsing@joneswalker.com>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>; mendheimforalabama@gmail.com <mendheimforalabama@gmail.com>; an.kirby@fox10tv.com <an.kirby@fox10tv.com>; "brendan.kirby@fox10tv.com" <brendan.kirby@fox10tv.com>; jama.killingsworth@waff.com <jama.killingsworth@waff.com>; Mike Wright <mwright@waaytv.com>; rmartin@cbs42.com <rmartin@cbs42.com>; Baylor Long <blong@hearst.com>; dwingard@wsfa.com <dwingard@wsfa.com>; news@mynbc15.com <news@mynbc15.com>; randy.merrow@fox10tv.com <randy.merrow@fox10tv.com>; gmcdonald@waka.com <gmcdonald@waka.com>; comments@abc3340.com <comments@abc3340.com>; newstip@abc3340.com <newstip@abc3340.com>; wvtm13@wvtm.com <wvtm13@wvtm.com>; dlamb@cbs42.com <dlamb@cbs42.com>; sdiorio@wvua23.com <sdiorio@wvua23.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 06:55:20 PM CDT
Subject: AL chambers of commerce; AL State Bar; and politicization of DOJ
To Alabama chambers of commerce and other addressees:
In my continuing badgering of the Alabama legal profession about Trump and the rule of law, on Sunday I sent the below email to the Alabama State Bar President, Mobile lawyer Frederick G. Helmsing Jr., with copies to Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Brad Mendheim and my Alabama TV station contacts.
My email availed of Mr. Helmsing's law practice specialization as a white-collar defense attorney to ask hm pointed questions seeking to help assess the condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI for enforcing the criminal law.
As my email discusses, there are two important, adversarial sides, to wit, the government having an important investigative and prosecutorial function and citizens (including businesses) having important legal and other rights in the defense of themselves against the government.
A "proper" balancing between the two sides is important for the United States, and I believe the business sector has an interest in this.
"Politicization" of the Department of Justice and its FBI has, I think, has been threatening the United States in having a "proper" balancing of the two adversarial sides relative to the criminal law.
Over the past 10 years, the Department of Justice and its FBI have been mired in a political maelstrom that has included (i) Hillary Clinton's alleged mishandling of classified information, (ii) Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, (iii) the Mueller investigation, (iv) Trump asking for Ukraine's help to get "dirt" on Biden, (v) Trump's contention that the 2020 election was rigged, (vi) the criminal indictments of Trump regarding January 6th and classified documents, (vii) Trump's pardoning of January 6th criminals, (viii) the FBI recently commencing criminal investigation of James Comey and John Brennan, and (ix) DNI Tulsi Gabbard referring Obama, Comey, Brennan, and James Clapper to the Department of Justice over a "treasonous" Russia hoax conspiracy.
I think the United States has an ungodly mess related to its Department of Justice and the FBI.
I fervently wish for the Alabama State Bar to react to the ungodly mess that now surrounds the rule of law, the Department of Justice and the FBI.
I fervently wish for the Alabama business community to take an interest in this ungodly mess.
I fervently wish for Alabama TV stations to better perform their journalistic obligations in informing Alabamians about this ungodly mess.
Thank you for your attention to this email.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Mountain Brook
(for filing in Citizens Acting to End the Trump Presidency: The condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI)
[referenced "below email to the Alabama State Bar President, Mobile lawyer Frederick G. Helmsing Jr." is the first email above]
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: purplepeopleresistance@gmail.com <purplepeopleresistance@gmail.com>; hivealabama@gmail.com <hivealabama@gmail.com>; shelbycountydems65@gmail.com <shelbycountydems65@gmail.com>; NAYoungDems@Gmail.com <nayoungdems@gmail.com>; Blueprintalabama Info <info@blueprintalabama.com>; Membership Coordination <membership@birminghamindivisible.org>; alabamademocraticchairs@gmail.com <alabamademocraticchairs@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 04:04:07 AM CDT
Subject: Further re the condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI
To Alabama Trump resistance groups:
Now I have emailed Alabama chambers of commerce about the email I sent to the Alabama State Bar President, Mobile lawyer Frederick G. Helmsing Jr., concerning Trump and the rule of law and the condition of the Department of Justice and the FBI.
My email begged for the chambers of commerce to take an interest in how the Department of Justice and its FBI have been mired in a political maelstrom during the past ten years that has included (i) Hillary Clinton's alleged mishandling of classified information, (ii) Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, (iii) the Mueller investigation, (iv) Trump asking for Ukraine's help to get "dirt" on Biden, (v) Trump's contention that the 2020 election was rigged, (vi) the criminal indictments of Trump regarding January 6th and classified documents, (vii) Trump's pardoning of January 6th criminals, (viii) the FBI recently commencing criminal investigation of James Comey and John Brennan, and (ix) DNI Tulsi Gabbard referring Obama, Comey, Brennan, and James Clapper to the Department of Justice over a "treasonous" Russia hoax conspiracy.
My email to the chambers of commerce is posted at Citizens Acting to End the Trump Presidency: The condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI.
I continue to urge Alabama Trump resistance groups to undertake organized, targeted emailing to grow Alabama public opinion against Trump.
Thank you.
Rob Shattuck
(for filing in Citizens Acting to End the Trump Presidency: "New poll delivers troubling signs for Democrats" and in Citizens Acting to End the Trump Presidency: The condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI)
From: Rob Shattuck <rdshatt@aol.com>
To: Brannon Buck <bbuck@badhambuck.com>; Terri B. Lovell <terri.lovell@alabar.org>; mckinney@watsonmckinney.com <mckinney@watsonmckinney.com>; suzanneduffey@mc-ala.org <suzanneduffey@mc-ala.org>; flatta@burr.com <flatta@burr.com>; wbrewbak@law.ua.edu <wbrewbak@law.ua.edu>; sgarrett@bsol.com <sgarrett@bsol.com>; ccampbell@faulkner.edu <ccampbell@faulkner.edu>; blakehudson@samford.edu <blakehudson@samford.edu>; christy.crow@jinkscrow.com <christy.crow@jinkscrow.com>; richard.raleigh@wbd-us.com <richard.raleigh@wbd-us.com>; daoffice@baldwincountyal.gov <daoffice@baldwincountyal.gov>; baldwinDA@baldwincountyal.gov <baldwinda@baldwincountyal.gov>; "baldwinda@baldwincountyal.gov" <baldwinda@baldwincountyal.gov>; bob@schreiberadr.com <bob@schreiberadr.com>; jvance@law.ua.edu <jvance@law.ua.edu>; jws@willsellers.com <jws@willsellers.com>; cdobson@maynardnexsen.com <cdobson@maynardnexsen.com>; jwilson@birminghambar.org <jwilson@birminghambar.org>; Ross Cohen <rcohen@bakerdonelson.com>; spratling@wskllp.com <spratling@wskllp.com>; Mark Ezell <mee@ezell-law-llc.com>; John Steiner <john@steinerlawllc.com>; spoer@scottdukeslaw.com <spoer@scottdukeslaw.com>; ddowd@burr.com <ddowd@burr.com>; Chris Christie <chris.christie@dentons.com>; Gwen Windle <gwindle@charter.net>; hello@waterssullivan.com <hello@waterssullivan.com>; ryeilding@bradley.com <ryeilding@bradley.com>; glondon@burr.com <glondon@burr.com>; katherine.robertson@alabamaag.gov <katherine.robertson@alabamaag.gov>; Barry Marks <barry@leaselawyer.com>; Fasking Info <info@fasking.law>; Adrian Johnson <adrian.johnson@alacourt.gov>; claire.veal@alappeals.gov <claire.veal@alappeals.gov>; courtney.bailey@alappeals.gov <courtney.bailey@alappeals.gov>; tbaker.wbm@gmail.com <tbaker.wbm@gmail.com>; rbeers@rumberger.com <rbeers@rumberger.com>; sblackmon@bradley.com <sblackmon@bradley.com>; kbrown@whitearnolddowd.com <kbrown@whitearnolddowd.com>; liles_burke@alnd.uscourts.gov <liles_burke@alnd.uscourts.gov>; cbutler@dfhlaw.com <cbutler@dfhlaw.com>; tracy@alabamapersonalinjurylawyers.com <tracy@alabamapersonalinjurylawyers.com>; scole@hillhillcarter.com <scole@hillhillcarter.com>; tdemoss@balch.com <tdemoss@balch.com>; scottdonaldsonlaw@gmail.com <scottdonaldsonlaw@gmail.com>; linda@ch13gadsden.com <linda@ch13gadsden.com>; John Graham <john.graham@alacourt.gov>; sandi@gregoryfannturner.com <sandi@gregoryfannturner.com>; hallla@hallwrightlaw.com <hallla@hallwrightlaw.com>; hannah@bbjlawfirm.com <hannah@bbjlawfirm.com>; shelbie@hankeylawfirm.com <shelbie@hankeylawfirm.com>; david@loftinholt.com <david@loftinholt.com>; Jim Hughey <jim.hughey@alacourt.gov>; valynda.jerome-williams@ssa.gov <valynda.jerome-williams@ssa.gov>; Joanne Jannik <joanne.jannik@alacourt.gov>; angela.kennedy@akennedylaw.com <angela.kennedy@akennedylaw.com>; lisa.littell@jinkscrow.com <lisa.littell@jinkscrow.com>; flong@hillhillcarter.com <flong@hillhillcarter.com>; yawanna@campbellpartnerslaw.com <yawanna@campbellpartnerslaw.com>; cmcgowan@wigginschilds.com <cmcgowan@wigginschilds.com>; Robert Minor <robert.minor@alacourt.gov>; bmorgan@faulkner.edu <bmorgan@faulkner.edu>; jneal@whitearnolddowd.com <jneal@whitearnolddowd.com>; Jill Phillips <jill.phillips@alacourt.gov>; spierce@wallacejordan.com <spierce@wallacejordan.com>; C PriceII <cpii.law@gmail.com>; lcrbama@gmail.com <lcrbama@gmail.com>; jsaxon@saxonattorneys.com <jsaxon@saxonattorneys.com>; cseal@whitearnolddowd.com <cseal@whitearnolddowd.com>; mshelly@acpbs.com <mshelly@acpbs.com>; Chad Smith <chad.smith@alacourt.gov>; doug.smith@alabamada.gov <doug.smith@alabamada.gov>; msurface@maynardnexsen.com <msurface@maynardnexsen.com>; rhslaw2009@gmail.com <rhslaw2009@gmail.com>; jsmyth@maynardnexsen.com <jsmyth@maynardnexsen.com>; Jeremy Taylor <jeremy.taylor@alacourt.gov>; jacquelyn@delktomlinsonlaw.com <jacquelyn@delktomlinsonlaw.com>; T Hudson <thudson@jeffcodefender.org>; chad.coker@alabar.org <chad.coker@alabar.org>
Cc: fhelmsing@joneswalker.com <fhelmsing@joneswalker.com>; mendheimforalabama@gmail.com <mendheimforalabama@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 03:20:41 PM CDT
Subject: Catching up Alabama lawyers
To Alabama lawyers (including ASB Bench & Bar Relations Committee members):
This week I sent emails to Alabama State Bar President Fred Helmsing and Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Brad Mendheim.
If you are interested, the emails are posted at Citizens Acting to End the Trump Presidency: The condition of the Department of Justice and its FBI.
