HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_017348.jpg
2.5 MB
Extraction Summary
5
People
2
Organizations
0
Locations
0
Events
1
Relationships
4
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Book manuscript / memoir draft / legal analysis
File Size:
2.5 MB
Summary
This document appears to be a page (261) from a manuscript or book draft, dated April 2, 2012, written by a high-profile lawyer (likely Alan Dershowitz given the context of House Oversight documents and the writing style). The text analyzes the psychology of celebrity clients, arguing that they often risk things they have in limited supply (freedom, reputation) to gain more of what they already have in abundance (money, sex). It specifically cites Leona Helmsley as an example of this self-defeating behavior.
People (5)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Author (Unidentified in text, likely Alan Dershowitz) | Lawyer/Author |
Narrator discussing their experience representing high-profile celebrity clients in legal trouble.
|
| Leona Hemsley (Helmsley) | Hotelier / Client Example |
Cited as an example of a wealthy celebrity taking unnecessary risks for minor financial gain.
|
| Larry David | TV Creator/Actor |
Referenced in footnote 82 regarding an episode of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'.
|
| Bill Buckner | Athlete (Implied) |
Referenced in the title of the 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' episode in footnote 82.
|
| George Lucas (Implied) | Film Director |
Referenced in footnote 82 as 'a well known film director who directed Star Wars'.
|
Organizations (2)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| House Oversight Committee |
Source of the document (indicated in footer stamp).
|
|
| Curb Your Enthusiasm |
Referenced in footnote 82.
|
Relationships (1)
Author
→
Professional/Observational
→
Leona Hemsley
Author uses Hemsley as a case study for celebrity behavior.
Key Quotes (4)
"I see celebrities close up and at their worst. They come to me when they are in trouble, often deep trouble."Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_017348.jpg
Quote #1
"Their celebrity is no longer a shield protecting them from the ordinary tribulations that befall most people on a daily basis. When they come to me, their celebrity has been turned into a sword being wielded against them."Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_017348.jpg
Quote #2
"Most have gotten into trouble for one overarching reason: because they were willing to risk what they have limited amounts of in order to obtain more of what they have unlimited amounts of."Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_017348.jpg
Quote #3
"Many of my celebrity clients, who have unlimited amounts of money or access to sex, have sacrificed what they have limited amounts of – freedom, career, time with loved ones, health – in order to obtain even more money or sex."Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_017348.jpg
Quote #4
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (3,391 characters)
4.2.12
WC: 191694
WC: 191694
the truth. I turn down most celebrity requests, and cases involving celebrity clients form a tiny
fraction of my practice over the years, but the few that I do take garner far more publicity than do
the many cases involving unknown clients.
fraction of my practice over the years, but the few that I do take garner far more publicity than do
the many cases involving unknown clients.
Is there anything special about famous clients—celebrities? Should "high profile" cases be
handled differently from less visible controversies? These are questions I have pondered during
my career as a lawyer.
handled differently from less visible controversies? These are questions I have pondered during
my career as a lawyer.
Most people see celebrities at a distance – on the screen, stage, television, athletic field, or
auditorium. They see them at their best – acting, posing, playing, speaking, being interviewed or
participating in charitable causes.
auditorium. They see them at their best – acting, posing, playing, speaking, being interviewed or
participating in charitable causes.
I see celebrities close up and at their worst. They come to me when they are in trouble, often
deep trouble. Their celebrity is no longer a shield protecting them from the ordinary tribulations
that befall most people on a daily basis. When they come to me, their celebrity has been turned
into a sword being wielded against them. Celebrities generally live by publicity. When they come
to me, they are dying from the publicity and want privacy and anonymity. But they can’t have it,
because the very celebrity that brought them fame and fortune now threatens to magnify their
problems.
deep trouble. Their celebrity is no longer a shield protecting them from the ordinary tribulations
that befall most people on a daily basis. When they come to me, their celebrity has been turned
into a sword being wielded against them. Celebrities generally live by publicity. When they come
to me, they are dying from the publicity and want privacy and anonymity. But they can’t have it,
because the very celebrity that brought them fame and fortune now threatens to magnify their
problems.
I have represented, advised and consulted with dozens of celebrities, ranging from Presidents and
Prime Ministers to world famous athletes, actors, writers and financiers. Most have gotten into
trouble for one overarching reason: because they were willing to risk what they have limited
amounts of in order to obtain more of what they have unlimited amounts of.
Prime Ministers to world famous athletes, actors, writers and financiers. Most have gotten into
trouble for one overarching reason: because they were willing to risk what they have limited
amounts of in order to obtain more of what they have unlimited amounts of.
This may sound self-defeating, if not bizarre—so let me explain. Celebrities share several
common characteristics. They have more of something than ordinary people have: great athletes
have extraordinary physical skills; good actors have unusual thespian skills; successful politicians
have a special charisma; financiers have money and the ability to make more. These special
characteristics generally give celebrities access to certain desiderata of life: lots of money and the
things money and fame buy, and the benefits that come with these commodities, such as access to
numerous sexual partners – if they choose to use their celebrity to obtain such access (and
excess!)
common characteristics. They have more of something than ordinary people have: great athletes
have extraordinary physical skills; good actors have unusual thespian skills; successful politicians
have a special charisma; financiers have money and the ability to make more. These special
characteristics generally give celebrities access to certain desiderata of life: lots of money and the
things money and fame buy, and the benefits that come with these commodities, such as access to
numerous sexual partners – if they choose to use their celebrity to obtain such access (and
excess!)
Many of my celebrity clients, who have unlimited amounts of money or access to sex, have
sacrificed what they have limited amounts of – freedom, career, time with loved ones, health – in
order to obtain even more money or sex. Let me provide a few examples of such bizarre risk-
taking in cases that are a matter of public record. (I could provide many more examples if I were
free – which I am not – to disclose confidential information given to me by celebrity clients)⁸².
sacrificed what they have limited amounts of – freedom, career, time with loved ones, health – in
order to obtain even more money or sex. Let me provide a few examples of such bizarre risk-
taking in cases that are a matter of public record. (I could provide many more examples if I were
free – which I am not – to disclose confidential information given to me by celebrity clients)⁸².
Leona Hemsley, the celebrity hotel "queen", had more than a billion dollars in the bank when,
according to the government, she whited out the words "stereo system" on a bill for services and
changed them to "security system" in order to have her accountant deduct its cost from her taxes.
according to the government, she whited out the words "stereo system" on a bill for services and
changed them to "security system" in order to have her accountant deduct its cost from her taxes.
⁸² See Larry David’s "Buckner" episode on Curb Your Enthusiasm, where a psychiatrist tells Larry about his
celebrity patients, without disclosing the names, while identifying them by unique characteristics: e.g., a well
known film director who directed Star Wars.
celebrity patients, without disclosing the names, while identifying them by unique characteristics: e.g., a well
known film director who directed Star Wars.
261
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_017348
Discussion 0
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this epstein document