Jewish Madoff lawyer receives death threats

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Attorney Ira Lee Sorkin has told how the American Jewish community has labelled him the "devil's advocate" for defending the man many Jews feel betrayed them.

Madoff has been accused of ruining a large number of Jewish charities and educational institutions which invested in his Ponzi scheme, in which $50billion (£34billion) is said to have been lost.

But in an interview with Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronoth, Mr Sorkin defended his decision to represent Madoff. "I have received a lot of anti-Semitic emails," Sorkin said. "One read 'I deeply regret that the Sorkin family did not perish in the Nazi death camps'."

When asked about representing a man considered to be one of the worst criminals to hurt the Jewish community, Sorkin said: "The law says you are entitled to be represented by a lawyer and every Jew should be proud of that.

"Fortunately, we live where justice is supposed to be colour blind. All citizens are entitled to their civil rights."

Madoff, who has confessed to perpetrating fraud, is awaiting sentence.