It Is Happening Every Day, Every Where
Brad Karp, the managing partner of the elite New York law firm, sent an email to its lawyers defending a highly criticized arrangement reached with the Trump administration last week.
A presidential memorandum aimed at lawyers everywhere struck a menacing tone.
Paul Weiss was targeted by an executive order from President Trump. Its chairman, who had worked against Mr. Trump during his first term, then went to the Oval Office and cut a deal.
Paul, Weiss — one of three law firms targeted by President Trump as part of his retribution campaign — said it resolved the conflict by agreeing to a range of commitments.
Experts have warned that the president’s efforts threaten the ability of lawyers to do their jobs and private citizens to obtain legal counsel.
The president’s use of government power to punish firms is seen by some legal experts as undercutting a basic tenet: the right to a strong legal defense.
The order against the firm, which did work for Democrats during the 2016 campaign, represents an escalation of efforts to punish groups the president sees as aiding his enemies.
The husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris will advise companies in crisis as a partner at the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
The president-elect’s defense lawyers accused the special counsel of unethical and improper behavior in his prosecutions of their client. They could be in senior Justice Department roles within weeks.