What happened
Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur and ally of President Donald Trump, is facing backlash over her ties to a law firm handling cases related to the contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune, a military base in North Carolina.
The law firm, Keller Postman LLC, represents approximately 80,000 of the 400,000 people seeking compensation for exposure to toxic chemicals in the water supply between 1975 and 1985. The firm could potentially net billions of dollars in taxpayer money if successful in their claims.
Loomer has been vocal about the issue, criticizing the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward for their handling of the case. However, Trump administration sources have raised questions about Loomer's interest in the case, suggesting that she may be motivated by a desire to help her lawyer friend, Ashley Keller, who leads the firm's efforts on the case.
Loomer has denied receiving any compensation from the firm but has acknowledged working with Keller on previous projects. The firm has also denied paying Loomer for her advocacy.
The DOJ has already paid out roughly $1 billion to settle nearly 4,000 claims related to the contamination, with the majority of cases still pending. The plaintiffs' attorneys and the DOJ have until October 30 to come up with a framework for settling all outstanding lawsuits and damage claims.
