As we discussed on Friday, Amal Clooney was in Washington, DC for a week to speak to Congressmen and Obama administration officials about the ongoing situation in the Maldives. Amal is representing Maldives’ former president Mohamed Nasheed, and she’s been arguing that the breakdown in democracy in the Maldives is cause for America to impose limited sanctions against the country.
Amal notably sat down for her first interview with an American channel last week when she chatted with NBC News, and then on Sunday, she sat down for another interview with Meet the Press’s Chuck Todd. Chuck Todd is not interested in celebrities at all, and he avoided questions about George Clooney or what it’s like for Amal to have her own stylist now and all of that. The interview was just about the Maldives. I walked away from this interview thinking, “Damn, she’s a fast talker!”
The few times when Chuck Todd skirted around something personal, it was in relation to this case. A Maldivian politician had accused Amal of being a lying celebrity, and Amal basically said that the politician who said that is now in jail because the current president is “now increasingly paranoid and going after members of his own party, having dealt with the opposition in its entirety.”
She was also asked about her personal safety – especially since someone on her legal team was shot several months ago – and Amal said: “I think that the kind of attack that I got from that vice president is an act of desperation, and it’s easy to dispose of. So it’s not something that’s worrying. I think, on the other hand, in representing this client and trying to just procure his release and the release of other political prisoners, if people are made aware of the situation in the Maldives, I think that’s a good thing.”
While I’m not a member of the “Amal Clooney Is an Impossible Goddess” Fan Club, I do give her credit for being quick on her feet and more than capable of conducting herself well in interviews. She easily managed to avoid potential interview pitfalls and she is great at coming across as cautiously inoffensive.
Photos courtesy of Meet the Press, Twitter.
She not only did great, she is also bringing attention to a situation few people had any awareness about. Another gold star for my girl.
Why do gossip writers always act so surprised that she speaks well, etc., when they should know that she’s an attorney representing high-level clients?
These writers and her critics don’t seem to be able to comprehend that she has an impressive job that requires intelligence. Are they so immersed in obsessing over implants and Botox that they don’t understand this?
Because they make themselves sound incredibly shallow and really lacking in smarts.
Difficult to take someone seriously if you are watching them endlessly bop her head and toss her hair. http://amaltouchingherhair.tumblr.com/
That is a very sexist comment. Please stfu.
@Me too. Sorry don’t worship or drink the kool aid at Our Lady of Amal or buy the Amalicorn-train.
Compared to a Hollywood starlet she is a genius. When the comparison is made with other lawyers, then she does not fare as well. She is competent but there are many lawyers who are even better.
I like Chuck Todd but every time he introduced her, he said “she also happens to be the wife of George Clooney”. Annoyed me.
No one introduces Jolie as “she also happens to be the wife of Brad Pitt”.
Though annoying, I think the fascination/interest with Amal is her marriage to George. To act like people are listening because of her work prior (though it should be) is inaccurate. I am not trying to take away from her amazing work, but, people are listening simply because she is the wife, not because she is a lawyer first.
Angelina was popular before Brad Pitt. Amal was not, at least not to this level.
Absolutely Belle. People can deny it all they want, but if she didn’t have George as a husband, she would still be an intelligent women, but vastly ignored or unknown by the mainstream. Yet, if she gets through to anyone, it’s a win for her. On the celebrity side, I’m glad George married an intelligent woman with her own mind and thoughts as opposed to the arm candy he changed from year to year to to romp on his yacht in Italy and to escort on the red carpet. So it’s a win, win……
I hadn’t even heard of Amal before George. At least I had heard of Angelina.
I give her a “who cares.” No one would know her name if not for being Mrs. George Clooney. Which boosts his ego to boot. So, win win for them. As for the general public, I don’t think they give a rats ass.
I would tend to agree since Amal has built a career in her own right that has nothing to do with Gworse or his industry. However, Angelina built her career and was a celebrity before she and Brad got together. No one know who Amal was outside of her field before Operation Pygmalion, The 2000s Edition.
I watched the interview- she came off well. Chuck Todd acted a little googly eyed though which I’m not used to seeing. He’s usually more smug.
She’s an old hand at this sort of interview, situation because she had to deal with this sort of thing when she was dealing with Yulia Timoshenko and Ukraine.
She gave one interview to the BBC, set up by Clooney’s team.
She gave multiple interviews to multiple sources, not just the BBC. And a couple of years earlier she’d also done the rounds for the Assange case she worked on. She’s also been interviewed about various international law issues that didn’t directly relate back to a case she was working on.
Wow, I didn’t know the ISIS recruitment info regarding the Maldives.
Good interview.
ISIS is recruiting troubled young men (some women) from everywhere in the world. The money trail is predominately in the mid-east but it is good that the global reach of that hateful group is understood.
It’s interesting because while AC hasn’t called for a tourism boycott, some experts have talked about how something like that would encourage more extremism.
Still can’t take her seriously as a person – but she’s obviously very smart and capable – after all those pap walks and the horny looks she reserves not for George but the paps.
About 200 Maldivians joined ISIS so far. Comparedly, about 700 British, around 400 German, and some thousands of French, Belgian and Spanish men/women joined. So what Amal basically does is fearmongering at the cost of the tourist industry of the Maldives. Some might call this clever to get attention for her case, I call it irresponsible, and completely out of context.
“Chuck Todd is not interested in celebrities at all.”
Sorry, I have to give a side-eye to that one.
It is nice to see an accomplished woman who knows what she is talking about. And if it takes a celebrity marriage to bring her to our attention, so be it.
She is more worthy of attention than many others featured on this site.
She has political critics? That’s news to me.
New Amal fan. Could care less about George Clooney but didn’t like her being shoved in my face last year. Wow she opened my eyes to something I wasn’t aware of, came off extremely well and just seemed like a total class act!
You all acting like the person defending is innocent what if he is guilty
It’s not clear what you are saying, but if you’re saying that the person she is defending might be guilty, the whole point of the justice system is that everybody is entitled to representation.
Should we jump to conclusions because the lawyer is well known/we like her? Maybe not. But at least she’s drawing attention to a situation we might not know of otherwise and then we can read up on it further.
She is accusing a whole country of recruiting extremist group without evidence that not the way to defend a client & she expect the release of her client with that argument, she’s playing with fire, since when lawyer has the power to demand sanction against a country for the release of a single man, the country depend on tourism she has to go after the government not the country entirely
You got it Fa. This is Washington/political game playing advocacy as usual.
@Fa – she is not “accusing a whole country of recruiting extremist group without evidence”. There have been numerous warnings of terrorist attacks there against British and NA tourists since the huge attack in 2007 which killed 200 people. Isis has released videos threatening terrorist attacks against numerous locations there. Many Islamist terrorists from the Maldives have joined Jihadist groups in Syria and other Middle Eastern locations. Several charities that served as fronts for Pakistani terrorist groups used disaster relief missions and money meant for Tsunami relief in the Maldives as an opportunity to recruit potential jihadists.
Furthermore, as a human rights lawyer she represents clients such as Mohammed Nasheed, a democratic moderate, who was given a trumped up 13 year jail sentence after he was found guilty of terrorism for ordering the arrest of a senior judge when he was president three years ago. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that Mr Nasheed had not been given a fair trial and Amal Clooney and her partner were specifically chosen by the UN to work on his appeal. Please do some research before making such unfounded comments.
Please, she’s part of his defense team of course she claims that her client is innocent. But before you take her words as gospel truth, take an objective look at the case. It’s not exactly straight forward.
Her media strategy seems to have changed a lot. Have pap walk photos been permanently replaced with serious interviews? She handled herself well in the 2 recent interviews about the Maldives situation including responding to a question but never answering it. That is a politician’s must-have skill. Hmmmm, maybe she’s the one who aspires to political office and it was never George.
Amal is not a celebrity.
She’s a lawyer and of course she is quick on her feet.
The worst thing she did was marrying Clooney. Brings her down.
I agree.
Being associated with the Clooney circus makes her look more like a contestant on a reality show than a lawyer. Sad.
She volunteered for it. She continued with the pap walks.
Remove “um” from your vocabulary. Other than hearing “um” constantly it was a good interview.
and bopping her head and tossing her hair.
She turns 38 very soon. IF she wants babies she needs to move fast and if Clooney has had the snip and/or won’t give them to her, she needs to take her multimillion dollar divorce payout and the British mansion he bought her and move on. Something tells me she will do this at the end of this year. But that’s a solid year to come of pap strolls and red carpets. And a fortune spent on clothes with Vogue on speed dial.
Amal might not want children and Clooney has been open about not wanting them for years.
Does NBC have an exclusive deal with the Clooneys?
This from a poster (ERS) at AlamuddinStyle: “Wow. I don’t usually make partisan comments on the content of Amal’s work, but since it is not at all legal I will not be so cautious. I have to do a double take here – did she seriously just suggest that the US should boycott and place sanctions on another country because that country does not share “American values”, and furthermore since it is a major recruiting ground for ISIS? That is a very cheap shot, since it is well known that individuals across Europe have also gone to join ISIS. It is a complex issue. We do not fully understand why so many join ISIS, and if Amal does I would like to see her evidence before she instructs the most powerful state in the world to initiate sanctions against another. The ISIS issue is very delicate – it should not be used as a scaremongering tactic.
Sanctions and boycotts themselves are hugely controversial. They disproportionately affect individuals within the country – the people of the Maldives who depend on the tourism sector will face hardship as a consequence, and there is no evidence that sanctions will lead to a change in regime. In fact it may only increase animosity towards the US and compel more people to join ISIS (if that’s her argument!). Or just reduce the general standard of living for ordinary people. I found her first interview to be shallow – but I preferred the first interview. This second interview is simply naive, irresponsible, and beggars belief.
Amal is entitled to her views. But to use her celebrity status to advocate for such drastic policies against other nation states, policies which are controversial, seem to lack a robust evidence base, and require careful consideration, makes me deeply uncomfortable.”
She did not ask for sanctions against the maldivian population but against the small group of people who are responsible for Nasheed’s incarceration.
The intense dislike some commentors have for this woman seem to impair their ability to hear
Targeted sanctions have trickle down. One cannot on the one hand call for respect for rule of Law as determined by another country, and on the other compromise your stance by over-reaching your jurisdiction and authority; most especially when propelled into the position to do so by virtue of celebrity. Any dislike I have is for a circumvention of legitimate methods and means; I believe Amal to have over-stepped in this regard.
As it is, diplomatic efforts by the UK, Sri Lanka, and India, begun prior to Amal touching down in Washington, have secured medical treatment for Nasheed. We’ll see where this goes from here but Hollywood ought never to be an arbiter or determining factor in such matters as that has negative consequences for transparency, integrity of Law and fairness for all downstream.
I hear more than well enough, ta.
So, she’s asking the US government to impose targeted sanctions on a country to…what, prevent further recruitment by IS there? Or because the government of the Maledives doesn’t share American values, or because those values are “at stake”? Makes me wonder if she understands anything about the reasons for the rise of ISIS, or the role that Western countries, including the US, played in that process. She sounds at the same time entitled and naive. Who, she thinks, will be affected by those sanctions in the end?
I’m genuinely astonished that some people think of this as an appropriate intervention from an advocate, insisting she is lawyer mode (instructed by a single private citizen from another country) but fully capitalising on her celebrity to gain access to such platforms in the first place.
And beyond being seemingly cavalier about the possible trickle down effect of targeted sanctions on the population of the Maldives and the potential for culturing even more fertile conditions for further ISIS radicalisation, she further implies (recommends) an ‘informal’ tourism boycott of the nation which would directly impact, with immediacy, on the well being of Maldivian citizens.
She forgets her client is now a private citizen of the nation (having lost an election deemed democratically conducted), with no rights lesser or greater than those of the rest of the citizenry. Whilst his trial may not have met proper standards, no other citizens ought to be negatively effected in his private suit by external forces using their Western $ might or celebrity.
This is not awareness raising as some seem to applaud her for, this is one-sided and without due deference to other competing interpretations over a long and complex political dynamic in the Maldives; indeed it borders on political fomentation itself and further makes me question how many compromises are being made to proper Law in the name of Hollywood advocacy.
That’s a good point, I almost forgot, he’s a private citizen by now. On a side note, quoting billionaire Richard Branson, who has strong financial interests when it comes to flying the Maldives, isn’t very professional, or convincing.
“effect of targeted sanctions on the population of the Maldives and the potential for culturing even more fertile conditions for further ISIS radicalisation”
Thanks for mentioning this point. I’m not familiar with the situation but she seems to be reaching with this boycott point.
kudos to you, dippit! and i wished you would be allowed more comments on that AAstyle website you mentioned before. especially since i found out how some of their comments are being made up.
Well said, the country has now good relationship with China & Russia & no anymore with the US & the US can’t do anything in term of sanction at the UN as long as their allies is China & Russia it is same thing what happened with Syria where the US couldn’t do anything until it was too late because of China & Russia who are protecting the disgusting president over there, so this is all politics & as always no one win & at the end innocent people loose their life because of a single man
She’s never won a case so going on tv is the only thing she can do. I wish they would stop calling her human rights lawyer and instead call her worst world offenders lawyer.
She does take on very challenging cases where there’s lobbying and international relations involved. I just find her narcissism so hard to stomach yet compulsively watchable as I’m trying to reconcile “serious professional Amal Clooney” with “ultra-pap-horny Amal Clooney.”
I suspect she may be establishing a new field called,”Praw.” It’s not law or PR. but a hybrid of the two.
Well BREAKING: Nasheed is mid-flight to the UK under an agreement brokered by diplomatic efforts by the UK, Sri Lanka, and India. His release is temporary for medical reasons and he has assured and signed an agreement he will return following the treatment: 30 days if not requiring surgery; 48 days if surgical; plus, if medically determined, he can apply for an extension.
I hope and expect he will abide by the terms of the agreement as a lot of people have put their diplomatic credibility on the line for him. If he chooses to abscond he will nullify all the faith put in him and his integrity. He has an appeal pending and ought to honour the conditions of this temporary release.
The UK must not be embroiled in a messy and costly extradition proceeding or stand accused of harbouring an absconder for whom they went to bat to assist in securing his temporary medical release. If he does not make his return following treatment he will make a mockery of everything said on his behalf up to now.
It will be bad on her & other countries whose negotiated for his medical release if he do not return & partly bad on her if she has similar cases in other country where her other clients whether politicians or journalists want medical release & want to travel to other country & escape prosecution then no one will trust her clients if they use similar tactics
Well, Nasheed is alodged in a five star hotel in Colombo at the moment, from where he will fly further to the UK for his medical treatment. He signed an undertaking to return, his brother acts as guarantor.
Serious, non-snarky question here: can anyone clarify if she is a top lawyer, or if her now-celebrity status has simply given her more visibility? I have read conflicting accounts – some say that she is only one of many within a larger legal team ; others say she is a brilliant legal talent who leads the defense strategy and arguments.
I am not doubting that she’s a smart woman, or that she can think on her feet or that she is well-spoken (law school will do that for you). I’m genuinely curious as to her *actual* status within the legal community.
http://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/barristers
She’s a junior barrister.
In the UK she’s categorised as a https://www.gov.uk/government/news/attorney-general-launches-new-international-law-advice-panels junior junior due to her short time of Call. For reference:
She is C Panel – junior junior.
Who cares what she thinks of her enemies. I would have to see what they say and then what a neutral party says before I came to any conclusions about who was right or wrong.
Was the interview’s last question about “what’s next” for her Maldivian client or for AC? I think he was talking about what’s next for this case. Why did she do a coquettish pseudo-modest thing before talking about what’s next for her and not her client? Annoying woman.
Amal is the type of woman who believes “oh … trust me… he wants me.” Her coy, girly “lowering of the eyes” is getting old and tired. It’s utterly juvenile, coying and tiresome.
Because she needed to get the word out about the journalist in Aserbaidschan she’s ‘defending’ next. The PR has changed. After more than a year of pap walking, and being in the news for adopting a puppie, she’s now supposed to act the working woman some people still believe she is. That in almost all of her cases she’s ‘only’ a counselor, nobody seems to notice. They always call it “legal team”, but in fact, the legal teams consist of other, high-powered lawyers. That also was the case with Fahmy, the Egyptian journalist, and it’s the case with Nasheed.
Amal made it sound as if the case was brought to her and she took it on as her next crusade.
Turns out she’s ‘suitable’ case shopping and has only just made the approach to Khadjia Ismayilova, the journalist she was claiming as her new case/cause.
http://www.rferl.org/content/azerbaijan-khadija-amal-clooney/27497079.html
As of today
“Even From Prison, Ismayilova Vows To Keep FightingAliyev Goes On Attack Against EU Values
By RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service
January 19, 2016
Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has offered to take the case of jailed Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova to the European Court of Human Rights.
Ismayilova, an RFE/RL contributor, and her lawyer are said to be considering Clooney’s offer.”
Another blurring of the truth by Amal. But now we know the new image do-over has her seeking clients for how they will best reflect on her PR image.
@dippit: Thank you for the link, well, that suits the new direction of her PR. The way she goes about her cases might not get her a lot of those in the future, though. After all, there are ‘real’ lawyers out there;-), and people want results. This is mostly self-serving business. And I can’t help thinking George gets the stories for future films first hand from her. And yes, it’s clear now, why she picks the clients the way she does: they are in many ways all controversial to the public eye, so they bring the most attention for her. And of course, they all have plenty of money, and /or connections.
Firstly it isn’t Amals legal team she is just a consultant she can not represent him in court he has got a huge team behind him and the one who got was killed before Amal was there. He has also been found guilty. Secondly Amal doesn’t give the full story her client sacked a judge because he didn’t give the verdict that Nasheem wanted there is evidence against him and he had time to appeal etc and didn’t do it instead he let all his avenues close down and started with this Amal Clooney PR pity party. And ISIS want this ex President back cause he suits them. By the way Amal is supposed to be doing this Pro Bono the guy has millions so what is in it for Amal publicity it isn’t about justice it’s about Amal pretending to work. And once again it isn’t some victim of a horrible crime who can’t defend themselves. There is a reason her clients are Assange, Gaddaffi. Amal is very good at dragging her cases along for years. Mr Nasheed needs back surgery in the UK where his wife is like he isn’t going to run first chance he was told he has to provide a guarantee he would return but he refused so that vital back surgery isn’t vital enough for him to provide what was a very justified request. I’m sure Amal will stomp her feet if he doesn’t go but no one is that stupid once he is off the Maldives he won’t go back and he can afford to hide. Amal has a very average career she is a junior barrister she has NEVER won or even lead a case I’ve seen her in court she got in trouble from the judge seemed ill prepared but she looked good. As for her fake I don’t want fame statement on her first interview she had a 3 day media circus $13 million wedding, has done pap walks, red carpets, magazine spreads only wears high designer clothes is always pap ready with hair and makeup down. Does that seriously sound like someone who doesn’t want to be famous?
DanaG, completly agree, shes hungry for fame, as well as her mother, only reason she married George.
I just read an interesting article on a site called World,” Moral mercenary Amal Clooney works both sides of the human rights contest,”( PAUL SHEEHAN February 1 2016). The author discloses some information on the former president of the Maldives that I hadn’t read elsewhere. I find it interesting that the author uses the term ‘moral mercenary’ to refer to Amal Clooney. Them’s strong words…