President Trump instructed the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday to sanction attorneys and law firms if they engage in “frivolous, unreasonable and vexatious” litigation against the U.S. government.
“Lawyers and law firms that engage in actions that violate the laws of the United States or rules governing attorney conduct must be efficiently and effectively held accountable,” Trump said in a memo released by the White House. “Accountability is especially important when misconduct by lawyers and law firms threatens our national security, homeland security, public safety, or election integrity.”
In the directive, labeled “Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court,” the president targeted immigration lawyers specifically. He argued that they “frequently coach clients to conceal their past or lie about their circumstances when asserting their asylum claims, all in an attempt to circumvent immigration policies enacted to protect our national security and deceive the immigration authorities and courts into granting them undeserved relief.”
The president then ordered Bondi to review the “conduct” of lawyers and law firms that have brought litigation against the federal government in the last eight years.
He directed both the attorney general and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to “prioritize enforcement of their respective regulations governing attorney conduct and discipline.”
In recent weeks, the president has taken executive actions against major law firms connected to high-profile individuals who he sees as political enemies, including revoking security clearances for attorneys.
Trump targeted Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, calling for the legal firm’s government contracts and security clearances to be reviewed. The president, however, rescinded the order on Thursday, citing the firm’s agreement to provide pro bono work for the administration’s efforts
Perkins Coie, who worked for former Secretary of State Hilliary Clinton, filed a lawsuit because of Trump’s order that blocked its lawyers from entering federal buildings. A portion of the order was temporarily blocked by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, an appointee of former President Obama.
Covington & Burling law firm also found itself in the president’s crosshairs. The organization provides pro bono services to former special counsel Jack Smith in his personal capacity.
On Friday, Trump justified the executive actions he has taken against the law firms and argued that they are open to making deals.
“Well, the law firms all want to make deals. You mean the law firms that we’re going after, that went after me for four years ruthlessly, violently, illegally? Are those the law firms you’re talking about?” Trump told reporters on Friday.
“They’re not babies. They’re very sophisticated people,” he added. Those law firms did bad things. Bad things. They went after me for years.”
