US judge: the conduct of a defense lawyer in Russia investigates a lack of professionalism

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A US judge said Monday that a lawyer defending a target of the investigation of Special Adviser Robert Mueller on Russian electoral interference had engaged in "unprofessional, ineffective acts", which led to the # 39; lawyer to say that he could withdraw from the case.

Judge Dabney Friedrich asked lawyer Eric Dubelier to stop what she called "personal attacks without merit" against Mueller's team. Dubelier defends Concord Management and Consulting LLC, a Russian company accused of funding a propaganda operation aimed at influencing Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election.

"I will say it clearly: stop," said Friedrich to Dubelier in the District Court of the District of Columbia.

Dubelier said that he had to check with Concord to find out if they still wanted him to work on the case, knowing that there seemed to be "some bias on the part of the court against him.

In the course of the proceedings, Dubelier cited such films as "Animal House" and cartoon characters such as Tweety Bird, criticizing Mueller's unlawful investigation and stating that it was illegitimate, and asked for that his charges be dismissed. Friedrich has twice refused to dismiss the charges against Concord.

Prosecutors claim that Concord is controlled by Evgeny Prigozhin, a businessman identified by Russian media as close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. US officials said Prigozhin had close ties to Russia's military and political establishment.

Concord is one of three entities, with 13 Russian people indicted by Mueller's office as part of a criminal plot and spying to alter the 2016 US election, to strengthen Trump's bid and to denigrate his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Russia has denied any involvement. Trump said that there was no collusion between the Kremlin and his campaign, while repeatedly criticizing the Mueller probe as a "witch hunt".