‘Big Law’ Leftists Rage as Dem-Aligned Law Firm Targeted by Trump Caves After EO
Leftists in the “Big Law” community and their NeverTrump allies are seething with rage after a powerhouse Democrat-aligned law firm that aided in the Manhattan prosecution of Donald Trump struck a deal with the president this week to get him to withdraw an executive order that could have led to a revocation of their security clearances pending review and potentially cost them billions of dollars in clientele:
Donald Trump on Thursday rescinded an executive order he signed less than a week ago targeting the Paul, Weiss law firm, citing an agreement with the firm that includes pro bono support for the administration’s initiatives.Trump posted on Truth Social that he had agreed to withdraw the order he signed March 14, which called for a review of security clearances and government contracts with the Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP law firm, called Paul, Weiss for short.[…]As part of the agreement, the law firm agreed it would not deny representation to clients based on political views; that it would not use any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies; and that it would dedicate the equivalent of $40 million in pro bono legal services to support the Trump administration’s initiatives such as assisting veterans, combating antisemitism and “fairness in the Justice System.”
While Mr. Karp touted how the agreement did not amount to the law firm turning its back on its alleged principles, the New York Times reported that after considering suing the Trump administration, Paul, Weiss bent the knee because of money:
In deciding to bend to Mr. Trump, Mr. Karp likely saved his law firm, which had $2.63 billion in revenue last year and represents corporate clients like Exxon Mobil and Apollo Global Management, from hemorrhaging clients and lawyers.
Reactions to the news among Big Law leftists and their lawfare-supporting allies were pretty predictable:
Here’s a little background (from 2023) on Paul, Weiss and its efforts as a Resistance-approved law firm:
For a law firm to lend not one but three lawyers to the Manhattan D.A.’s office seems rather magnanimous, until you consider Paul, Weiss’s previous generosity to Joe Biden. During Biden’s White House run, the law firm hosted a $2,800-per-plate fundraiser for about 100 guests.The chair of the Paul, Weiss law firm, Brad Karp, also topped the list of Biden fundraisers, bundling at least $100,000 for the then-candidate. “As someone who cares passionately about preserving the rule of law, safeguarding our democracy and protecting fundamental liberties, I’ve been delighted to do everything I possibly can to support the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris ticket,” Karp wrote in an email.Karp’s support of the Democrat presidential ticket isn’t surprising given that his fellow Paul, Weiss partner Robert Schumer is Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s brother.Biden’s connection to the firm, however, dates much further back, with the former secretary of homeland security in the Obama-Biden administration, Jeh Johnson, also heralding from Paul, Weiss. Once elected president, Biden nominated Jonathan Kanter, a former partner of Paul, Weiss, to serve as the top antitrust enforcement official at the Justice Department. In fact, according to Bloomberg, Paul, Weiss has “emerge[d] as Biden-Era N.Y. Power Center.”
Former Obama-Biden Attorney General Loretta Lynch is also a partner at the firm.
Also, there was this:
Relatedly, here’s something to revisit later this year:
Indeed.
-Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via Twitter/X.-
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