410027 Floherd ©. Stone Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, N. January 34, 2014 Eric. Schneiderman, ‘Attorney General Office of the Attorney General State Capitol ‘Albany, NY 12224 Dear Mr. Attorney General, | write this letter In the hope that It will add a relevant perspective on the troubling situation of Wiliam Rapfogel. Let me say at the outset that | do not Intend to comment directly on the offenses to which I gather Wile [s Bikey to be pleading guilty. | don’t think there s much | could add to your office's extensive knowledge of whatever happened. I wil only comment in thisragard [and I am sure many others had the same reaction) that | ‘would have glvan incaleulable odds against the possibilty that Willa would ever bein this situation. [What | will comment on is my very extensive personal experlence with Wille Jewish people and of New York city. 2 public servant of the Fist let me klentify myself and my experience with Wiliam Rapfogel. | have been, for forty years, a professor at the Columbla Law School, and for much ofthat time! held the Wilbur Friedman Chair in Tax aw. 1 ‘taught many alumni of your office and though Ihave met you casually, have known well a number of your predecessors, and have high regard for what you do. | also spent several years in government, as an Assistant to the Solleitor General ofthe United States, where! argued 2 dozen eases in the United States Supreme Court. ‘Though my elle nvalvamants included a term a5 2 Trustee ofthe Cty University of New York (CUNY), ‘most of my community activism has been centered on the Jewish community, For fifteen years | focused primary ‘on the New York Cty community and chaired the Government Affairs Commission of the Jewish Community Relations Council In the early 1980's | became Involved inthe national scene, first as the publle policy head ofthe Union of Orthodox Jewish Congragations of America and then In a numberof positions that ultimately ted to my becoming Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organlzations, where my term ended last June. ‘When | emerged on the national scene as public policy head of the Orthodox Union, Wilife was the head ‘of the staf that, 1a a lay person, supervised (Le, he was the Executive Director ofthe Institute for Public Affairs). ‘We worked very closely together In this capacity for two years at which ime Wille was offered a top postion, and Ultimately the number one position, st Met Courcl, where, as you know, he stayed for about twenty years. He persuaded me to join the Met Councl! Board shortly after he began there and so | have been involved In Met Council throughout Wilie’s tenure. | had more than enough board positions and responsibilities at that time, and ‘would not have gone to Met Council, except that Iso valued working with Willi, in 2022, when was elected FOIL 150078 000005‘Chairman of the Presidents Conference, |had 2 great excuse to get off ofall other boards and did so, with the ‘exception of Met Council where stayed because of my loyalty to Will, In oth ofthe collegial situations i have just referenced, I found Wille, non-stop and without exception, to bbe one ofthe Finest Jewish professionals (and there were many) that l ever worked with. His energy and commitment to his duties and to his constituency were incredible. He cared deeply forthe Jewish community and for the causes he stood for and his devotion was not only impressive, but contagious. He caused his lay volunteers, Including myself, to work harder for the organizations than we otherwise would have, and he did so by example, ‘not by exerting pressure. saw this partculary during his years at Met Councl, where he atracted an astonishing set of devoted lay leaders and brought Met Council well beyond where anyone could have expected it to go. believe no one was remetely as effective as Willie in making the ewish cermmunity, and indeed the world, aware that poverty was avery serlous issue within a Jewish community that many people assume to be affluent across ‘the board, There ls no doubt in my mind that he made a substantial difference to many needy New Yorkers, a liference that very few professionals would have had the skill andthe drive to make. His loss at this moment In ‘time as a Jewish professional sa serious blow to our community. It wil be & very cificult job to replace Wile with ‘someone who can equal his achievements. ‘have no ides how to reconcile any ofthe observations have just made with the charges that Wie ‘pparenty admitting to, and though | am tempted te do s, | retain fam trying to analyze how these seemingly conflicting parts of Wie could have co-existed. wl say simply tat his enormous acconmplishrentsin behalf of ‘ur community are tatally real and reflected serious dedication and readiness to give of himself. Whatever else has tobe considered, | pray that this snot forgotten. Ona personal level, Wille extended himself to me during times of cficulty on multiple occasions and there was no doubt whatsoever of his sincerity. Wille attracted large financial contributors to Met Counc! but | was only @ modest contributor and hs efforts on my behalf were simply signs of personal generosity and genuine concern that I believe many of us experienced. | don't think anyone ever doubted the depth of friendship that \Witle had with so many of us and | would add that | have rarely known anyone more obviously devoted to his. family. ‘Again, no one can deny the sertousness ofthe situation that you are dealing within recommending how Wille ought to be punished. No one has ta tell someone of your experience how complicated situations can be. | simply wanted to give you the perspective of someone who has worked closely wth Wille for more than twenty ‘years and offer my hope that the ultimate disposition of Will's fate will fully reflec his extraordinary positive efforts and his historic contribution, particularly to the recognition and relief of Jewish poverty Very truly yours, WGeO B Yee Richard B. Stone Professor of Law FOIL 150078 000006