Bar investigating lawyer with possible link to CIA

Mike Rogoway
The Oregonian
Dec. 24, 2006

The Oregon State Bar plans to investigate a Portland attorney over his work for a shadowy company linked to allegations of CIA-sponsored torture.

Scott Caplan represents Bayard Foreign Marketing, an Oregon company that took ownership of a Gulfstream V jet in 2004. Human rights activists say the CIA used the jet to ferry terrorism suspects to countries that practice torture.

Though Bayard listed a Portland address in its state business registration, searches turned up no record of the company's owner, Leonard T. Bayard. Human rights groups said they suspect Bayard doesn't exist and his company is a CIA front.

Retired political scientist Michael Munk filed a complaint with the Oregon bar in October alleging that Caplan may have committed "professional misconduct" by registering the company on behalf of a person who doesn't exist.

The state bar notified Caplan last week that it has referred Munk's complaint to the bar's disciplinary counsel for further investigation, indicating the bar has found "credible evidence of misconduct." Further investigation to determine whether misconduct actually occurred could take weeks or months, according to the bar association.

Federal Aviation Administration records show that a Delaware bank called the Wilmington Trust Co. took ownership of Bayard's old Gulfstream in August. Bayard renewed its Oregon business registration in October, and Caplan continues to be registered with the state as the company's agent. He declined comment.