Name Peter Fleming | ||
Born August 18, 1929 ( 1929-08-18 ) Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey Cause of death Complications from surgery Alma mater Yale Law School, Princeton University Occupation Criminal defense attorney Died January 14, 2009, New York City, New York, United States Education Princeton University, Yale Law School | ||
Peter E. Fleming Jr. (August 18, 1929 – January 14, 2009) was a criminal-defense lawyer known for his A-list roster of clients.
Peter Fleming Jr. was a defense attorney on a highly controversial case known as the "Vesco Trial" United States V. John Mitchell and Maurice Stans. The trial stated that John Mitchell and Maurice Stans had been involved in fraudulent activity involving Robert Vesco, a shady financier. The belief was that both Mitchell and Stans had promised to aid Vesco in avoiding the Department of Justice if he donated $200,000 to the Committee to Re-Elect the President during Richard Nixon's second bid for office.
John Mitchell, former Attorney General, was defended by Peter Fleming Jr. after a year of investigation and litigation both Maurice Stans and John Mitchell were acquitted in 1974. It was a miraculous turn out and earned Peter Fleming a stable career as a defense attorney. Mitchell was eventually re-indicted and served time in prison. Maurice Stans was released from all charges until 1975, he was convicted of obstruction of justice after which he paid a $5,000 fine.
The Vesco trial gave Peter Fleming Jr. immense credibility and established his career having successfully defended a former attorney general of the United States.