President Trump on Friday defended a series of executive actions he’s taken to target major law firms associated with individuals he holds grudges against, one day after one of those law firms struck a deal with the administration to avoid any penalties.
Trump was asked in the Oval Office how he would respond to critics who argue his actions amount to coercion.
“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 said.
“They’re not babies. They’re very sophisticated people. Those law firms did bad things. Bad things. They went after me for years,” Trump added.
The president has signed orders in recent weeks that review security clearances and government contracts for three separate law firms.
One order Trump targeted Covington & Burling, which is providing pro bono services to represent former special counsel Jack Smith in his personal capacity. Smith oversaw two federal criminal cases against Trump involving the alleged mishandling of classified documents and his involvement in the Jan. 6 riot.
Another targeted Perkins Coie, which worked for the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016 and worked for a political opposition research company that dug into Trump during his first run for president.
And a third targeted Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP law firm, called Paul, Weiss for short. That firm employs attorney Mark Pomerantz, who was involved in the Manhattan District Attorneys investigation into Trump’s finances. After Pomerantz resigned from the DA’s office, it brought charges against Trump over a hush money payment he made over the course of his 2016 campaign.
Trump was ultimately convicted on 34 charges related to falsifying business records to conceal an alleged affair that he denies.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the portion of Trump’s order denying Perkins Coie attorneys entry to federal buildings.
Trump announced on Thursday night that he was rescinding the order targeting Paul, Weiss after the firm agreed to a series of stipulations that align it closely with the administration, including by providing the equivalent of $40 million in pro bono legal services to support the Trump administration’s initiatives.
