Contract, Erion Veliaj prepaid 300 thousand dollars to American lawyers

2025-03-25 16:03:00, Denoncim CNA

Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj paid a $300,000 down payment to the American law firm Kasowitz Benson Torres to obtain its legal services in the criminal process that SPAK has initiated against him. The contract signed on March 1 has been published in the US Department of Justice, while the money appears to have been paid by the mayor's brother, Arbër Veliaj.

Contract, Erion Veliaj prepaid 300 thousand dollars to American lawyers

However, the amount of $300,000 is a preliminary guarantee, as according to the documents, if the services provided by the law firm for Mr. Veliaj cost less, then the difference will be returned to the mayor.

But what are the services that the American studio has undertaken to provide on behalf of Veliaj?

According to the contract, the main service will be “legal, media and strategic advice regarding the detention of Erion Veliaj by the Albanian authorities.” But the contract is not limited to legal consultancy. It also has the character of lobbying in the United States of America on behalf of the mayor detained by SPAK.

“Services may potentially include communications on behalf of clients with the U.S. Department of State and other agencies in the Executive Branch and in some cases public relations regarding the Albanian rule of law and the Albanian government,” the contract states.

Veliaj, 300 thousand dollars payment/ Law firm or lobbying firm from the USA?!
March 10, 15:41

Rates up to $2,000 per hour

On March 10, Mr. Veliaj was visited in his cell in Durres by attorney Joshua Robert of Kasowitz Benson Torres. A day later, when the mayor was scheduled to appear at a hearing to review his security measure, the American attorney was prevented from attending by order of the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime.

After being barred from attending the hearing, Roberts spoke publicly to the media opposing Veliaj's imprisonment.

"In America, according to the Constitution and the law, criminal charges and offenses are filed on the basis of reasonable cause when a crime has been committed. Also, the detention of citizens before trial occurs only if they pose a flight risk or a danger to society. The impacts of time limits and without criminal charges and the criteria for risks for politicians are contrary to the rule of law and democracy in the USA," he said.

But according to the contract published in Fara, Mr. Roberts is not the person directly dealing with Veliaj at the American studio. The document lists three other lawyers, who are Daniel J. Fetterman, Brian S. Choi and Richard Pinal.

These three are paid according to the terms agreed upon in the contract. For Daniel Fetterman the agreed rate is $1,950 per hour, for Brian Choi it is $1,275 per hour, while Richard Pinal's hourly rate is $500.

Contract, Erion Veliaj prepaid 300 thousand dollars to American lawyers

Erion Veliaj was arrested by SPAK on February 10 of this year. Since then, the mayor of Tirana has been held in custody despite opposing this decision./ Kapital.al