Roll on Friday
Covington & Burling has locked down its Washington, D.C. office in response to the perceived threat of a fired associate who this week was arrested carrying guns in the city.
Paul Bryant sent shockwaves through the US firm earlier this month when he alleged on LinkedIn that a partner had called him a racial slur.
Introducing himself as “a Black, Neurodivergent former 5th year BigLaw corporate attorney with severe post-traumatic stress disorder”, Bryant posted that a partner “called me a [racial slur] after I defended myself and my reputation in response to him trying to pressure me to quit”.
Bryant alleged he was pushed out of the firm because “I would not write SEC disclosures in support of anti-minority and anti-women based initiatives”, in a reference to Donald Trump’s vendetta against BigLaw diversity policies.
Bryant, who is a former US Army soldier, said, “I will fight this one like I fought every bout as a West Point boxer…alone, with my hands up, chin down, and biting down on my mouthpiece. This ‘[n-word]’ will be heard”.
In further posts that have now been deleted along with his account, Bryant disclosed that he was seeking a $30 million settlement from the firm and that he was, unexpectedly, going to “solicit the help of the President, Donald J. Trump to strike an adequate deal with Covington”.
Bryant demanded a further $7 million to build a wellness centre at his local church “which I will use to spiritually and mentally shed the trauma you have caused me” and $5 million for “the West Point boxing team, which I will coach while I recover from the trauma you have caused me”. He also demanded the firing of the offending Covington partner.
Covington & Burling rejected Bryant’s claims, stating that “The allegations made by Mr. Bryant against the firm and its partners are categorically false and repugnant”.
“The firm will vigorously defend itself and our colleagues and intends to explore all available remedies in response to these outrageous claims.”
ROF has learned that Covington took precautionary steps in response to Bryant’s conduct. A spokesperson told ROF the firm had increased security at its Washington, D.C. office for a few weeks out of an abundance of caution.
On Sunday 24 August, Bryant was arrested in the city after drawing the attention of National Guard officers patrolling D.C.’s streets.
Arrest warrants obtained by ROF show that at approximately 11pm, they called in police and said Bryant had approached them and made threatening statements including, “These are our streets”, “I’ll kill you”, and that he was “strapped”.
A search uncovered a Glock 47 9mm pistol tucked in Bryant’s waistband with one 9mm round in the chamber.
Bryant holds a licence for the gun, but it is not permitted under state law to carry unholstered weapons.
A search of his 2025-reg BMW turned up a Tokarev Bullpump 12 guage shotgun, also legally registered, and ammunition.
