Judge Blocks Trump's Order Against Perkins Coie, Citing Abuse of National Security

Judge Blocks Trump's Order Targeting Perkins Coie

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a significant portion of President Trump's executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie. The judge ruled that Trump used national security concerns as a pretext to punish the firm for its past work with Hillary Clinton.

The executive order stripped security clearances from Perkins Coie lawyers, mandated the termination of contracts, and barred government employees from engaging with the firm. Trump claimed Perkins Coie posed a national security risk due to its work with Fusion GPS on the Clinton campaign's "dossier."

Judge Howell rejected Trump's arguments and issued a temporary restraining order, citing concerns about using national security grounds for punishment. She also noted the financial harm caused by the order and questioned the claim that Perkins Coie was a national security risk.

The Justice Department argued that the president has the power to strip clearances and deem entities a national security threat, but Judge Howell disagreed. She also expressed concern that the order was an instance of Trump using taxpayer dollars to pursue a personal vendetta.

The hearing came after Perkins Coie sought a temporary restraining order on the advice of Williams and Connolly, another elite law firm in Washington DC. The firm had initially reached out to Quinn Emanuel, which has represented people in Trump's orbit, but the firm declined to take the case.

Williams and Connolly advised Perkins Coie to ask for an emergency hearing and temporary restraining order, both of which Judge Howell granted.