Grand Theft America / Receipt power-2025-03-06-031
Trump punishes the law firms that represented his opponents
Trump signs executive orders stripping security clearances, barring building access, and canceling federal contracts for law firms that represented his adversaries (Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey). All four sue; in every case the courts grant summary judgment for the firm, ruling the order unconstitutional and enjoining agencies from implementing it. The government has appealed each ruling. At least nine other firms cut deals with the president.
What happened
Trump signs executive orders stripping security clearances, barring building access, and canceling federal contracts for law firms that represented his adversaries (Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey). All four sue; in every case the courts grant summary judgment for the firm, ruling the order unconstitutional and enjoining agencies from implementing it. The government has appealed each ruling. At least nine other firms cut deals with the president.
Why it matters
Courts, independent agencies and the legal profession are supposed to enforce rules that bind the president too. Weakening them makes accountability harder. It is tracked here under “Coerce law firms and the bar”; the classification describes the documented institutional risk, not a claim about motive.
Receipt details
- Phase 1
- Capture the referees
- Coerce law firms and the bar
