Trump targets another law firm days after judge questions legality of first order
President Donald Trump expanded his attack on private law firms Friday, issuing an executive order that targets law firm Paul Weiss' contracts and its employees' security clearances.
The move came two days after a Washington, D.C. federal judge issued a temporary restraining order halting several restrictions in a similar order against another firm, Perkins Coie. In targeting Paul Weiss, the executive order cited the firm's former hire of ex-Manhattan prosecutor Mark Pomerantz who wrote in a 2022 letter published in the New York Times that Trump was "guilty of numerous felony violations."
At the time, Trump hadn't faced an indictment, although Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg later secured an indictment and conviction against Trump on charges of falsifying business records. Trump has appealed his conviction.
Paul Weiss is third firm targeted by Trump
"The executive order is focused on the activities of Mark Pomerantz, who retired from the firm in 2012 and went on to work at the District Attorney’s office nearly a decade later," Paul Weiss Communications Director Laura Van Drie told Paste BN in a statement. "Mr. Pomerantz has not been affiliated with the firm for years," according to Van Drie.
In his order, Trump said Paul Weiss hired Pomerantz in 2022. Van Drie didn't immediately respond to a follow-up request for comment on whether that statement in the order is incorrect.
On Feb. 25, Trump also suspended security clearances for lawyers at Covington & Burling who assisted former special counsel Jack Smith. Smith secured two indictments against Trump before Trump won the 2024 election and the Justice Department dropped the charges.
Trump's orders targeting Paul Weiss and Perkins Coie also cite what he described as racially discriminatory policies, which he said exist at "nearly every other large, influential, or industry leading law firm" – an apparent reference to policies to boost the numbers of underrepresented groups.
Aysha Bagchi is Paste BN's Justice Department Correspondent. You can reach her by email at abagchi@usatoday.com and follow her on X at @AyshaBagchi.