Attorney Norm Pattis will defend a second member of the Proud Boys against charges stemming from the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Pattis notified the court this month that he will be representing Zach Rehl. The attorney already works for fellow Proud Boy Joe Biggs.
Rehl, head of the Philadelphia Proud Boys chapter, was convicted on seditious conspiracy charges along with Biggs and Henry "Enrique" Tarrio. They could spend up to 20 years in prison.
Pattis is facing a six-month law license suspension for misconduct while defending conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in the Sandy Hook trial. The court has ruled that he can continue practicing law while the suspension is being appealed.
Lawfare's Roger Parloff said it was unusual for Rehl to hire Pattis because of a potential conflict of interest.
"In interview with me, Pattis concedes this is 'unusual' but says he's discussed with both Rehl & Biggs the potential conflicts & each has waived any conflict," Parloff noted on Twitter. "Says he's discussed with govt, too, and they 'appear to take the view that it's a waivable conflict.'"
"My own view is that this is still weird," he added. "At sentencing a lawyer will often argue why his client is less culpable than the other defendants. Obviously Pattis can't do that now. And, at least prior to the videos coming out suggesting that Rehl pepper sprayed police."
