In a stunning reversal, Trump's Justice Department revives campaign against law firms

After Donald Trump launched an unprecedented offensive against prominent law firms last year, most of the president’s targets capitulated, fearing White House punishments. Four firms, however, fought back, challenged Trump’s orders in court and went undefeated.

The victories for the quartet — Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Susman Godfrey — looked even better this week when the Trump Justice Department announced plans to throw in the towel: Instead of appealing their earlier defeats, DOJ lawyers said they would abandon their defense of the president’s executive orders.

At least, that was the plan on Monday. On Tuesday morning, MS NOW, citing two sources familiar with the case, reported that the Justice Department had notified the four firms that it’s changed course and will proceed with the appeal after all. The New York Times had a related report:

The Trump administration indicated on Tuesday that it planned to renew its defense of executive orders that it had leveled against law firms, a sharp reversal a day after asking a court whether it could abandon the fight.

In a motion filed with the appeals court in the District of Columbia, where the cases are playing out, the Justice Department formally asked to withdraw its request on Monday to abandon the cases against four law firms.

So, to recap: First, the president tried to exercise greater control over the legal industry in a ridiculous power-grab, telling many of the nation’s largest firms that they would lose government contracts and security clearances unless they agreed to meet the White House’s demands. Four leading firms refused and filed suit.