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Re: Checking In

From:gpodesta@gmail.com To: podesta.mary@gmail.com, john.podesta@gmail.com Date: 2014-04-15 12:47 Subject: Re: Checking In

Well, if we needed more evidence that no one in the USAF JAG Corps gets it, I just got the report from the sexual assault case I worked for six months at McChord. The Military Judge Investigating Officer found "reasonable grounds to believe that [the Accused] committed the offense of sexual assault," yet nonetheless recommended that the case not go forward to trial. Just one pearl of his wisdom: "This is also not a case of the accused having sex with some random person that he finds drunk at a party." Because, as we all know, date/acquaintance rape is not "legitimate rape" worthy of a day in court. Worse yet is that it sounds like my office concurs with the recommendation. I'm feeling really defeated right now. Time to just move on from the military? Or maybe see if Sen. Gillibrand needs a new staffer? Timing of this news couldn't have been more perfect as it relates to my earlier email, no? On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 12:31 PM, Gabe Podesta <gpodesta@gmail.com> wrote: > Quick career question: > > I'm still very much thinking that I will separate in 2015, but I'm giving > some thought to angling for Dustin's job as the Wash, DC Special Victims > Counsel when he leaves the job in Summer 2015. I think that I would be > good at it, but more importantly, I think I would be better than the clowns > I know who are in the job right now (Dustin Kouba excluded, of course). > The USAF seems to be putting people into that role right now that are > staunch deniers of the fact that sex assault in the military, is, you know, > a problem. > > My concern however is that the longer I stay in, the more difficult my > transition out will potentially be. That is, right now I think I'm a young > attorney with a broad range of experiences but without a specialty. The > longer I stay in I fear that military law will quickly become my specialty > and make it harder for me to convince a potential employer that I'm worth > the training and investment in something different. > > The benefits to doing it are that I think I would like it, I think I would > be good at it, I think I could make a meaningful impact (if not on a larger > scale at least for my individual clients), and it could get me back to DC. > Getting back to DC would seem to have two advantages: 1) I want to be in > DC; and 2) I think that transitioning out of the USAF could potentially be > easier from DC than either Kabul or Tacoma. Based on what Dustin tells me > about the workload I think I could even do the G'Town Tax LLM at night and > not have to take myself out of the workforce for a year. Additionally, my > DC Bar admission will entitle me to reciprocity with some states (e.g. VA > and MD) after 5 years (Dec 2015). So when I transition out in 2017 I'd > could have bar admissions other than DC without having to sit for the bar > again. > > I wouldn't need to make a decision until after I get home this fall, but > if I want the job I should probably start making inquiries now. Doesn't > seem like there is much harm in making those inquires unless I absolutely > shouldn't or won't take the job. What do you all think? Advice/guidance > greatly appreciated. > > > On Mon, Apr 14, 2014 at 1:08 PM, Gabe Podesta <gpodesta@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Cherry blossoms and RCP sound like heaven right now. Not that it is too >> bad here, but nothing compares to a DC spring. >> >> On Mon, Apr 14, 2014 at 12:15 AM, Mary Podesta <podesta.mary@gmail.com>wrote: >> >>> Gabe, >>> >>> >>> >>> Sorry about your lazy colleagues but glad the job is otherwise going >>> well. I love your long emails. >>> >>> >>> >>> Beautiful day here. We went to church, took a drive to the cherry >>> blossoms but bailed out quickly to avoid a huge traffic jam, and then spent >>> an hour with dad running and me power walking in Rock Creek Park. Warm, >>> sunny, and no bugs yet. It was perfect. Now I think I will get back into >>> the book I started – Sweet Tooth by Ian Mc Kuen and start to think about >>> what to pack for next week’s trip to Philip’s wedding and then Scottsdale >>> with Nancy and Tom to see the long lost cousins. The challenge, of >>> course, is to have good options to wear for very different events and >>> venues and fit it all in a carry-on. >>> >>> >>> >>> Hope your week goes well. How does the military celebrate Easter in a >>> war zone? I hope you might get a few more hours of fun and relaxation. >>> We will all be thinking of you. >>> >>> >>> >>> Lots of love, >>> >>> >>> Mom >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> * -- Gabe Podesta