On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at the Chicago law firm Jenner & Block, which also has a location in Washington, D.C.
Jenner & Block has played a significant role in the legal disputes against several of Mr. Trump’s executive orders, successfully obtaining a preliminary injunction against a directive that limited health care access for transgender youth.
This legal matter remains unresolved in a federal court in Maryland.
The executive order directs officials to review the security clearance of firm members, identify any goods, property, materials, and services they received from the federal government and cease those provisions, terminate any existing government contracts with the firm, and refrain from hiring any of its employees for future federal positions.
The order also specifically mentions attorney Andrew Weissman, who contributed to Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 election and subsequently returned to Jenner & Block, stating that Weissman is barred from being employed by or working for the federal government unless granted a waiver.
The Trump administration has singled out several law firms that have actively challenged or sought to pause executive orders and policies through legal means.
Earlier, the president issued and then withdrew an executive order targeting the international law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison & Wharton after they committed to reevaluating their hiring practices and providing substantial pro bono legal services to assist specific White House initiatives.
A spokesperson from Jenner & Block responded to the executive order, stating, “Today, we have been named in an Executive Order similar to one which has already been deemed unconstitutional by a federal court. We remain focused on representing and protecting our clients’ interests with the dedication, integrity, and expertise that has characterized our firm for over a century and will pursue all appropriate remedies.”
