As Vice President Kamala Harris gears up for her White House bid against former President Donald Trump in November, she has enlisted a notable figure for her campaign strategy: Karen Dunn, a high-powered lawyer with an intriguing side job. Dunn, a partner at the prestigious Paul, Weiss law firm, is not only preparing Harris for the critical debate against Trump but is also at the forefront of Google’s defence in a landmark antitrust trial that could significantly impact the tech giant’s future.
Dunn’s dual roles have raised concerns among antitrust experts, who worry that her close association with Harris might conflict with the government’s aggressive legal action against Google. Critics argue that it is an “outrageous” conflict of interest for the Vice President to be receiving guidance from a lawyer defending a company being sued by her own administration. Matt Stoller from the American Economic Liberties Project highlighted this issue, noting that such a situation would typically be considered unethical in legal practices.
Despite these concerns, Dunn has been deeply involved in both high-profile cases. She delivered Google’s opening statement in the high-stakes trial on September 9, just two days before the pivotal presidential debate. Immediately after, she rushed from the courtroom in Virginia to join Harris’ team in Pittsburgh, finalising the debate preparations.
Dunn, aged 48, has a notable history of navigating the intersection of big law and Democratic politics. She began her career as a legislative correspondent and later worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign. Dunn re-entered the political arena in 2008, assisting Clinton and later Barack Obama in their presidential campaigns. Her legal career includes representing major tech companies like Apple, Uber, and Amazon, and she won a landmark case against the organisers of the 2017 Charlottesville rally.
Hillary Clinton praised Dunn’s unique combination of detailed legal expertise and broad strategic vision. Despite her notable achievements, Dunn’s current role might be her most high-profile challenge yet. As she defends Google in court while advising Harris, the outcome of this debate and the subsequent negotiations with the Justice Department could have far-reaching implications.
The controversy has not gone unnoticed by Republicans, who have criticized Harris for potentially being influenced by Dunn’s work with Big Tech. House Republicans are pressing for clarity on how Attorney General Merrick Garland is addressing these potential conflicts of interest. Neither Google nor the Harris campaign has yet commented on the situation.
Karen Dunn continues to balance her high-stakes responsibilities, and her unique position at the intersection of legal defense and political strategy could redefine the boundaries of political and legal engagement in the high-stakes world of national campaigns and corporate litigation.
