Chandeliers Are Fragile
This Up Early is about a person’s reputation, and how careful one must be with it. The Epstein file release brought this into focus for me. I’ve read all sorts of quotes from those whose names appear in the files. “Foolish” “Regretful” “Poor Judgment” and the like. Well, “If you get too close to the fire…” as they say.
As a former child sexual assault assistant prosecutor at the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone who cozies up to a child molester like Epstein. Even those who didn’t cozy up are now being reminded of the “too close to the fire” saying as their reputations take a hit.
The Epstein situation is obvious, but care must be used in less obvious situations as well. Here’s my story: You might remember me writing about my friend Paul several weeks ago. He was the ultimate negotiator at the Prosecutor’s Office who was also the coffee connoisseur. He asked me to be in his wedding back in the late 80s when we were both assistant prosecutors. Paul had lots of “interesting” friends. Most of them seemed to whisper when they spoke. His bachelor party was on a Friday after work at a banquet center in Farmington Hills. Lots of “interesting” characters milled around at the party and I—renowned for calling it an early night even back then—determined the earliest possible time I could leave without being rude. When that time came (@9:30pm) I said my goodbyes and off I went—into my car and on home. As I was leaving the party, I noticed that the whole tone had changed. The curtains were being closed, and big tables were being unfolded for some cards and dice. Definitely not my thing.
The next morning, I awoke to the television news of a big gambling ring bust. Guess where? I figure I must have been about halfway home by the time they raided the place. Seems the undercover cops had been tailing the gambling group for quite a while. That was the beginning of the end for Paul and many of his buddies. They were never viewed quite the same again, and Paul fell into a terrible funk, to the point that he eventually lost his law license.
In some ways I lucked out, but I really believe I sensed that nothing good was about to happen when I left. I must confess, it was kind of fun to hear rumors about how I supposedly kicked out the bathroom window and jumped out just as the raid got started…just like James Bond! Not true, but intriguing, nonetheless. I kept just far enough from the “fire” that evening not to get burned, and it was a good reminder.
When I was a young attorney, one of my first mentors was Danny Goldsmith. A wickedly good trial attorney, Danny told me this: “Jeff, your reputation is like a chandelier. You build it slowly, piece by piece, over many years. But if you make just one important mistake, it will all come crashing down at once.” I’ve heard Danny’s voice slowly speak those words in the back of my mind many times over my professional career, and my sons have heard it on more than one occasion. Some food for thought, especially now.
Fun Fact: Speaking of gambling, did you know the “Las Vegas Strip” is technically not in the city limits of Las Vegas but instead in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester in Clark County, Nevada.
