New York partner William Kuntz, II was quoted in a July 1, 2009, New York Law Journal article, "Attorneys Unite to Support Dismissed Government Watchdog."
According to the article, nearly 150 prominent attorneys have banded together to support one of their own who went to Washington, D.C., to serve as a government watchdog, only to be unceremoniously dismissed earlier this month. Gerald Walpin, the former inspector general for the board of the Corporation for National & Community Service, said that in mid-June, Norman L. Eisen, special counsel to the President, called him, curtly thanked him for his service and gave him less than an hour to "move on."
The call came after Walpin issued two "substantial reports" raising questions about the misuse of AmeriCorps funds, according to the article. In a letter to lawmakers, Eisen claimed that Walpin's dismissal was "precipitated" by his apparent confusion at the meeting where he was "disoriented, unable to answer questions and exhibited other behavior that led the Board to question his capacity to serve."
Kuntz said he and his colleagues were "outraged" when they learned about the dismissal and attacks against Walpin. "The bottom line is that [Walpin] clearly has all his marbles. He's articulate, listens . . . he doesn't wander off," said Kuntz, vice-president of the Federal Bar Council, of which Walpin is a former president. Walpin is the "ultimate straight shooter. This is not to say he is always right, but he's very fair and very impartial," Kuntz said. Kuntz was among six attorneys who spearheaded the effort to defend Walpin. They sent an e-mail asking federal practitioners who had "recent and substantial interactions" with Walpin to support their colleague.