Trump’s Retaliation Plan Against Law Firms Just Got Shut Down by a Judge

A federal judge issued a scathing rebuke to the Department of Justice this week, slamming its attempt to justify a controversial executive order targeting the prominent law firm Perkins Coie, which has represented Democratic clients, including Hillary Clinton, in high-profile political matters.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the Trump administration provided no credible evidence to support claims that the firm posed a national security threat, calling the DOJ’s arguments “speculative” and “politically motivated.” She added pointedly: “The proof is nonexistent.”

The executive order, signed earlier this year by former President Donald Trump, aimed to revoke Perkins Coie’s security clearances, cancel its federal contracts, and bar its attorneys from participating in any future litigation involving the federal government. Critics described it as a retaliatory act in Trump’s broader campaign to punish perceived political enemies.

During a heated court exchange, Judge Howell questioned DOJ lawyers about the evidence for the claims underpinning the order. After nearly an hour of vague references and circular logic, Howell declared the administration’s legal justification to be “completely unsubstantiated.”

“There is a difference between disliking your opponent and weaponising the presidency to punish them,” Howell wrote in her opinion.

Perkins Coie’s attorneys argued that the order was a clear abuse of executive power, issued with the intent to silence and intimidate law firms that have represented Democrats or supported investigations into Trump and his allies.

This ruling follows similar court challenges from other firms like WilmerHale and Jenner & Block, which faced comparable executive actions. In each case, judges have pushed back, citing due process concerns and the appearance of political retribution.

Legal scholars say this may mark a turning point in how courts respond to the Trump administration’s ongoing use of executive authority, particularly in the post-presidency landscape where Trump continues to exert significant influence over the Republican Party.