Law Firms Sue Trump Over Retaliatory Executive Orders

Two prominent law firms, Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging executive orders that stripped their security clearances and restricted their ability to conduct business with the government. These orders are seen as retaliatory actions against law firms representing causes or individuals critical of President Trump, including those involved in investigations into his campaign. The lawsuits argue that the orders violate constitutional rights, including the First Amendment, by coercing firms into ceasing representation of clients adversarial to the government. Meanwhile, other law firms such as Paul Weiss and Skadden have reached agreements with the administration, committing to significant pro bono work to avoid punitive orders. The legal actions highlight a division in the legal profession between firms willing to fight the administration’s tactics and those opting for compromise. The lawsuits were filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking to block these orders as unconstitutional abuses of power.