Post Reports The law firms cutting deals with Trump
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Apr 16, 2025 
Mark Berman, a law enforcement and criminal justice reporter for The Washington Post, discusses the striking tactics of Donald Trump in pressuring law firms to align with his political agenda. He reveals how firms are promising millions in pro bono work to appease Trump, raising ethical concerns about the influence of politics on legal representation. Berman also highlights the chilling effect of Trump’s executive orders on law firms, creating divisions within the legal community and complicating their traditional roles in justice.
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Trump's Targeted Law Firm Orders
- Trump uses targeted executive orders to punish law firms that employed investigators from his prior administration.
- These orders cut off firms from government contracts, security clearances, and federal buildings access.
Government Access Crucial for Law Firms
- Losing access to government can devastate law firms reliant on government negotiations and regulatory hearings.
- Clients and lawyers may leave targeted firms, causing significant revenue loss.
Trump's Rationale vs Firms' Retaliation Claims
- Trump justifies targeting firms by accusing them of threats to public safety and national security due to partisan representations.
- Firms argue they are retaliated against simply for representing people and causes Trump opposes.