DOJ reverses course on Trump executive orders targeting Mueller-linked law firms

TLDR:

• The Justice Department reversed itself in less than 24 hours, asking a federal appeals court to continue pursuing Trump’s cases against four law firms — after asking to dismiss them the day before.
• The DOJ offered no explanation for the stunning about-face.
• The targeted firms fired back, arguing the unexplained reversal should not be rewarded by the court.
• The four firms were targeted by President Trump over their ties to the Mueller investigation, the Steele Dossier, and other politically charged work.

The Justice Department pulled a stunning U-turn Tuesday, asking a federal appeals court to keep alive President Trump’s retaliation cases against four Democrat-connected law firms — less than 24 hours after asking the same court to drop them.

The DOJ offered no explanation for the reversal.

Deputy Associate Attorney General Abhishek Kambli told the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that since the court hadn’t yet accepted the dismissal, no harm would come from letting the cases move forward.

The firms weren’t buying it.

“Under no circumstances should the government’s unexplained about-face provide a basis for an extension of its brief,” the firms told the court.

Mr. Trump had targeted the firms through executive orders, directing the government to cancel their federal contracts and security clearances. District judges struck down each effort as unconstitutional retaliation.

The firms have deep ties to the Russia investigation. Jenner & Block hired Andrew Weissmann, a key member of former special counsel Robert Mueller’s team. Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr employed Mr. Mueller himself. Perkins Coie helped orchestrate the Steele Dossier that helped fuel the probe. Susman Godfrey was accused by Mr. Trump of funding efforts to inject radical ideology into the U.S. military.

Read more:

• DOJ pulls about-face, aims to pursue Trump’s cases against Dem-connected law firms