Legislation agency Jenner & Block sued the Trump administration Friday, calling the president’s government order focusing on the agency an “unconstitutional abuse of power.”
Trump has signed a sequence of government orders that take purpose at Huge Legislation companies with ties to his critics and other people he perceives as his enemies.
On Tuesday, Trump signed the order focusing on Jenner & Block, which beforehand employed Andrew Weissmann, a outstanding anti-Trump authorized pundit who labored on then-special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
“The Constitution, top to bottom, protects against such attempts by the government to target citizens and lawyers based on the opinions they voice, the people with whom they associate, and the clients they represent,” the lawsuit states.
Trump’s order seeks to restrict the agency’s authorities contracts and its attorneys’ safety clearances and entry to authorities buildings.
“It is intended to hamper the ability of individuals and businesses to have the lawyers of their choice zealously represent them. And it is intended to coerce law firms and lawyers into renouncing the Administration’s critics and ceasing certain representations adverse to the government,” the lawsuit states.
It’s certainly one of 5 such orders Trump has signed; he has additionally signed related ones focusing on legislation companies Covington, Perkins Coie, Paul Weiss and WilmerHale.
Jenner & Block is now the second of the focused companies to launch a lawsuit. It’s represented in its struggle by Cooley, one other legislation agency.
Perkins Coie was the primary to file swimsuit. A federal decide has quickly blocked parts of its order because the litigation continues. Paul Weiss, in the meantime, reduce a cope with Trump that included a $40 million spending dedication on professional bono causes aligned with the administration.
The brand new lawsuit was assigned to U.S. District Decide Beryl Howell, an appointee of former President Obama who oversees the Perkins Coie case, after Jenner & Block indicated the instances had been associated.
The Hill has reached out to the White Home for remark.
Up to date at 9:46 a.m. EDT
