Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen, has been accused of spying by Russia. His Russian lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, is a former Soviet government investigator. Zherebenkov was challenged in the U.S. press for seeming to do the Kremlin’s bidding in the guise of representing his client. But what if his actions are in the best interest of his client?

In 1820, King George IV, who had just succeeded to the throne of England, sought to divorce his wife, Queen Caroline, on grounds of adultery. The Parliament sought a special bill that would deprive Caroline of her title as Queen. If Caroline could prove that the King, too, had committed adultery, however, the Queen was entitled to a “right of recrimination” that would be a complete defense to the King’s suit.