I can think of only one crime that I may have committed in my life, and I know that if I had been

4.2.12 WC: 191694 My only “crime” I can think of only one crime that I may have committed in my life, and I know that if I had been tried for it, I would not only have been acquitted, but the jurors would have cheered me. It occurred after my son, Elon, had serious brain surgery for a life threatening illness. He was 10 years old and the bravest person I ever met. Shortly after the surgery, he went back to work selling newspapers in the subway station at Harvard Square. One day two young hoodlums from Somerville beat him up, broke his tooth and stole the few dollars he had earned. A local policeman, Frank Burns, who knew Harvard Square like the back of his hand, immediately recognized the MO of the thugs and arrested the two youths (“youts”—remember My Cousin Vinny!) Several days later, the two thugs came back to Harvard Square, robbed my son again and told him that unless he withdrew his complaint, they would throw him in front of a moving train. He called me and I ran to the square, where I saw the two thugs taking a victory lap. I approached them and I said I have only two words to say to you. I then mentioned the name of a man on whose case I was then consulting. Although the charge against him involved marijuana trafficking, the man himself was known to be a notorious hit man for one of Boston’s most violent gangs. I told the two youths that if they ever came near my son again, I would tell my client and that my client would do anything for me. The two thugs got down on their hands and knees and pleaded with me not to tell my client what they had done. They never came back. I never told my client, indeed I had never met my client, and still haven’t. I was just consulting with another lawyer on a constitutional issue related to the case. But simply mentioning his name terrorized the thugs. I’m not sure whether what I did was a crime. But I would do it again if anyone ever threatened any of my children. 382 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_017469