Fred Baron is a mega-trial lawyer that has given millions of dollars to Democrat candidates and campaign committees throughout the years, including the Texas Democrat Party and Senate candidate Rick Noriega.  

BARON BOASTS THAT TRIAL LAWYERS RUN THE U.S. SENATE: “Lastly, there is another reason [a legislative solution to the asbestos litigation crisis] won’t happen.  I picked up my Wall Street Journal last night . . . and what did I learn?  ‘The plaintiffs’ bar is all but running the Senate.’  Now, I really, strongly disagree with that, particularly the words ‘all but.’” (Fred Baron, Mealey’s Asbestos Bankruptcy Conference, June 3, 2002)

Millionaire Personal Injury Trial Lawyer.  Fred Baron is a founding partner of Baron & Budd, P.C., an 80+ lawyer plaintiffs’ firm that exclusively represents victims of exposure to asbestos and other toxic substances. Baron has made a fortune as a trial attorney and was named in Forbes Magazine’s list of the 40 highest-paid American lawyers.  Baron was the 2000-01 President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and a Democratic National Committee Trustee.  (“Killer Lawyers,” Forbes, May 14, 2001; Baron And Budd Website, www.baronandbudd.com <http://www.baronandbudd.com/> )

Baron Is One Of The Democrats’ Deepest Pockets.  Fred Baron and his wife, Lisa A. (Blue) Baron, have donated over $700,000 to Democratic party committees and candidates since January 1, 1991.  Political contributions from Baron and his law firm affiliates since 1991 total close to $2.5 million.  At one time, Baron was even in contention to have a wing of the Democratic National Committee headquarters named in his honor.  (Federal Election Commission Website, www.fec.gov <http://www.fec.gov/> ; Amy Keller, “Soft Sell,” Roll Call, March 18, 2002)

Democrat Members Of The Senate Judiciary Committee Are Some Of Baron’s Favorite Cash Targets.  “The man knows what he’s bought. According to campaign-finance records, 16 of Judiciary’s 19 current Members have received trial lawyer money over the past five years — in excess of $2.5 million.

Democrat John Edwards, a former trial lawyer, has collected nearly $1 million. Total political contributions from Mr. Baron, his wife and members of his law firm over that period to Judiciary Members total $103,000.”

(Editorial, “The Baron And His Fiefdom,” Wall Street Journal, September 25,

2002)

The Extent Of Political Contributions To Democrats From Baron’s Fellow Trial Lawyers Is Staggering.  Trial lawyers have contributed over $12.5 million to Democratic Senators and their affiliated committees since 1991.  Since 1991, trial attorneys have also given over $43 million to Democratic party committees.  (Federal Election Commission Website, www.fec.gov <http://www.fec.gov/> )

Baron Has Given Millions to the Texas Democratic Trust:

·         “Since the beginning of 2007, Baron has poured more than $1.5 million into the Texas Democratic Trust, which he set up a few years ago. The Trust then gives that money to the state party, the House Democratic Campaign Committee and similar groups.

Democrats, led by former chairman Charles Soechting and operatives Mike Lavigne and Kelly Fero, were already making headway before Baron became a major party donor in the 2006 election cycle. But the money that Baron has poured in over the last four years (now more than $3 million) has fueled a party resurgence that, while not yet evident in statewide races, has allowed Democrats to cut significantly into Republicans’ advantage in the Texas House.

Baron is no longer funding the Trust alone. This cycle, Houston trial lawyer John Eddie Williams has given the group $400,000.” (Postcards from the Lege, “Baron remains major funding force for Democrats (updated),” 7/15/08)

FRED BARON AND RICK NORIEGA:

·         Fred Baron and his wife Lisa Blue have donated $2,300 each to Noriega – the maximum amount allowed. 

·         A Noriega fundraiser was held on Monday, June 16, 2008 at the home of Fred Baron & Lisa Blue (5950 Deloache Ave., Dallas TX 75225).

·         The event at Baron’s home raised at least $8,275.00 as reported by ActBlue.

Rick Noriega Supporter and Major Fundraiser/Donor Fred Baron paid for the mistress f John Edwards to relocate from North Carolina following the revelation of the affair:

·         Dallas lawyer Fred Baron, who helped bankroll the former North Carolina senator’s presidential run, told The Dallas Morning News that he paid for the woman, Rielle Hunter, to leave Chapel Hill, N.C., because she was being hounded by tabloids.

Mr. Baron, who was chairman of the Democrat’s campaign finance committee in 2004 and 2008, said Mr. Edwards didn’t know about his aid to Ms. Hunter. Mr. Edwards confirmed that, saying repeatedly during a television interview that he knew nothing about the payments.

He said Ms. Hunter and another Edwards aide, Andrew Young, who claimed paternity of Ms. Hunter’s child, were being dogged by tabloid reporters chasing rumors of the affair and pregnancy.

“I made a decision on my own, without talking to Edwards or anybody, to try to help them move to a community to try to get away from those folks,” Mr. Baron said.

He said he used his own money – not campaign funds – but did not disclose how much he provided. Both Ms. Hunter, who now lives in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Mr. Young worked under Mr. Baron for the campaign. (Jeffers, Dallas Morning News, “Dallas lawyer Fred Baron paid for Edwards’ mistress to relocate,” 8/9/08)

Baron Continued to Say the Episode Was Tragic

·         Mr. Baron said the entire episode was tragic.

“John Edwards is an extraordinary human being who made an egregious error,” he said.

“I feel sad because I know John Edwards so well,” Mr. Baron said. “In life we all make mistakes. … It breaks my heart if this is going to disqualify him from being a public servant, because he would be a great one.”

Mr. Baron said he had also talked to Mrs. Edwards.

“It’s a hard time,” he said. “This has been a trying couple of weeks.”

Mr. Baron is founder of the Baron & Budd law firm. He and his wife, Lisa Blue, sold their interest in the firm several years ago.

He’s well known for his support of Democratic candidates and is raising money for nominee-to-be Barack Obama. (Jeffers, Dallas Morning News, “Dallas lawyer Fred Baron paid for Edwards’ mistress to relocate,” 8/9/08)

Baron Claims He Was Simply Helping Two Friends:

·         Baron said he decided to “help two friends and former colleagues rebuild their lives when harassment by supermarket tabloids made it impossible for them to move forward on their own.” (AP, Edwards admits to affair he denied as candidate, 8/9/08)

Melissa Noriega weighed in on the scandal on Burnt Orange Report:

·         Edwards @JRR Dinner… (3.00 / 4)

Ask them to send Elizabeth.  We like her better anyway.  Everyone does, including the MSM, which held its hand out of immense respect for EE. It is actually quite a story that the MSM showed such restraint–Mrs. Edwards has earned a place of respect in the national perspective.

That is the part Edwards didn’t get.  Or maybe he did, and that is why he did it. At some level, she has always seemed the level-headed, real one–the adult, if you will. Please note that she did not appear teary-eyed at his side for the confession, whatever he says about why he showed up alone.

The whole thing makes me sad.  Having said that, we need a different speaker.  Edwards jeopardized the whole Democratic deal.  

by: Melissa Noriega @ Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 04:38 AM CDT

Baron Took His Son To Court:

How daddy’s money paid for Andrew Baron’s Rocketboom

Here’s a story far more interesting than anything you’ll watch on YouTube: A prodigal scion of a wealthy family, pitted against his powerful father and an ambitious blonde. It’s not a pilot for a new courtroom procedural — it’s the tale of Andrew Baron’s Rocketboom, an online-video startup held up, inexplicably, as an example of the potential of the medium. Sony’s seven-figure deal to distribute Rocketboom is seen by some as evidence that the industry is growing up. But what it really tells us is that having access to a credit line backed by Daddy is as sure a recipe for success online as it was in the old Hollywood. The exciting plot twist: Baron’s father was not always happy about the arrangement. We’ve only learned how daddy-dependent Rocketboom was because Fred Baron loaned his son’s company a total of $810,300.40, and then took it to court in order to force repayment last year. If you think it’s strange for a father to go after his own son’s company in court, then you don’t know the elder Baron.

He’s a leading Dallas attorney who even sued the firm he cofounded, Baron & Budd, and is a regular on blog Overlawyered. More interesting is that Amanda Congdon intervened in order to protect her claim on part of the company. Meanwhile, the younger Baron complains all this legal wrangling tied his dealmaking hands, and that the company nearly went broke twice this year.

The Rocketboom episode neatly explains why the world of online video so resembles film school, a parent-funded enterprise of self-indulgent auteurs with macroambitions viewed by microaudiences (including yours truly). Sony’s deal doesn’t affirm the potential of online video as a means of creative expression; it simply tells us that the rich, despite themselves, can’t help getting richer. (Photos by Eric Skiff and Alex de Carvalho) (Valleywag, “How daddy’s money paid for Andrew Baron’s Rocketboom” 8/5/08)

Baron Federal Contributions: