"I have always had an attorney on retainer, and now I believe I will have to put him to work"
About this Quote
Then the sentence pivots: “now I believe I will have to put him to work.” That’s the tell. Retainers are insurance; “put him to work” implies claims are coming due. The subtext is less “I’m innocent” than “I’m prepared to fight,” a rhetorical move designed to chill critics and rally sympathetic audiences who read legal action as proof of persecution. It also subtly reframes the underlying issue from substance to procedure: not whether allegations are true, but whether others can be punished for saying them.
Contextually, Gannon’s public profile was intertwined with questions about access, credibility, and political media ecosystems. In that climate, the lawyer becomes a prop in the performance of grievance - a way to regain control when narrative control is slipping. It’s defensive, yes, but also strategic: a reminder that in modern media, the courtroom is just another beat.
Quote Details
| Topic | Witty One-Liners |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Gannon, Jeff. (n.d.). I have always had an attorney on retainer, and now I believe I will have to put him to work. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-have-always-had-an-attorney-on-retainer-and-now-70269/
Chicago Style
Gannon, Jeff. "I have always had an attorney on retainer, and now I believe I will have to put him to work." FixQuotes. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-have-always-had-an-attorney-on-retainer-and-now-70269/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I have always had an attorney on retainer, and now I believe I will have to put him to work." FixQuotes, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-have-always-had-an-attorney-on-retainer-and-now-70269/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.



