“Is it now a crime to hire a lawyer?”
It’s not. Is that what Hannity did? What was the deal there? Quid pro quo, pro bono, cash on the barrel head, green fees and lunch at the turn, one free telephone consultation? What constitutes a citizen as having hired a lawyer?
Money is not necessary to exert the privilege. Otherwise those attorney “free-consultations” would not be protected.
Consider also . . .
In California state court, Robert Kardashian was lawyer, long time friend and business associate to OJ Simpson. It was reported that dependable Bob had left the legal profession 15 years prior, never tried a criminal case, then had his license re-instated and became part of OJ’s legal team....the claim of attorney-client privilege in order to not be compelled to be questioned or testify as a witness. No cash was exchanged between OJ and his lawyer prior to Bob’s joining the team.