On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at the Chicago law firm Jenner & Block, which also operates an office in Washington, D.C.
Jenner & Block has played a significant role in the legal battles against Mr. Trump’s executive orders, including successfully obtaining a preliminary injunction against an administration order that limited health care access for transgender youth.
This particular case is still ongoing in a federal court based in Maryland.
The executive order mandates that officials evaluate and potentially revoke the security clearances of the firm’s members, identify any goods, properties, materials, and services they have received from the federal government, cease those provisions, terminate any existing government contracts with the law firm, and refrain from hiring any of the firm’s employees for future federal positions.
Additionally, the order specifically mentions attorney Andrew Weissman, who was involved in Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. The executive order claims he was re-hired at Jenner & Block, but the firm has clarified that Weissman has not been employed there since 2021.
The order further stipulates that Weissman cannot be employed by or work for the federal government unless a waiver is granted.
The Trump administration has targeted several law firms that have been engaged in challenging or temporarily halting executive orders and policies through legal means.
In the past, the president issued and later rescinded an executive order aimed at the international law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison & Wharton after the firm committed to evaluating its hiring practices and providing substantial pro bono legal services to advance certain White House initiatives.
A spokesperson for Jenner & Block responded to the order with a statement asserting, “Today, we have been included in an Executive Order similar to one that has already been ruled unconstitutional by a federal court. We remain dedicated to serving and protecting our clients’ interests with the integrity, dedication, and expertise that has characterized our firm for more than a century and will seek all appropriate legal remedies.”
