DoJ renews fight against law firms that stood up to Trump in abrupt reversal The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) abruptly reversed its earlier decision to abandon legal battles against four law firms that resisted Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting companies that opposed his policies. The reversal came just days after the agency had announced it would drop its appeal against a court ruling that blocked Trump’s retaliatory measures against the firms. On Monday, the DoJ had filed a court document stating it would withdraw its appeal against a district court’s decision to halt the implementation of Trump’s sanctions against the four companies. The move was celebrated by at least two of the firms, which had previously criticized the administration’s actions. However, on Tuesday, the government submitted a new, one-paragraph request to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, declaring its intent to pursue the appeal. The agency provided no explanation for the sudden change in stance. The law firms, including Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Susman Godfrey, and Jenner & Block, had initially resisted Trump’s executive orders, which aimed to penalize them for representing clients or causes the president opposed. In a statement, Susman Godfrey condemned the DoJ’s initial withdrawal, calling it a “capitulation” and reaffirming its commitment to defending itself and the rule of law. The firm’s statement emphasized its fight against what it called an “unconstitutional attack” on the legal profession and the Constitution itself. The reversal followed a broader pattern of Trump’s administration seeking to pressure law firms through executive actions.#donald_trump #us_department_of_justice #perkins_coie #wilmerhale #susman_godfrey
