As the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s resignation approaches, Geoff Shepard, the youngest attorney on Nixon’s Watergate defense team, has described the legal battle that led to Nixon’s departure as a “coup.” In an interview with The New American magazine’s Unrestricted podcast, Shepard provided an insider’s perspective on the events surrounding Watergate.
Shepard, who was responsible for transcribing the Nixon tapes and managing the White House document room, shared his belief that the actions taken against Nixon were part of a coordinated effort to oust the president. “I was right there on stage as this unfolded,” Shepard reflected, emphasizing his unique position during the scandal. Shepard remains the only member of Nixon’s staff to have received a letter of clearance from the special prosecutor.
In 2003, Shepard uncovered critical documents at the National Archives that exposed what he describes as a “secret cabal” involving top government officials who conspired to bring down Nixon. According to Shepard, these officials held illegal meetings with federal judges, including Judge John Sirica and Judge Gerhard Gesell, who played key roles in the Watergate trials.
Shepard’s findings, which he explores in The Real Watergate Scandal, suggest that the legal process was compromised by a determination to convict Nixon and his associates at any cost. Drawing comparisons between Nixon’s experience and the legal challenges faced by former President Donald J. Trump, Shepard warns that the use of lawfare poses a significant threat to democratic principles.
