Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday targeting Susman Godfrey, the law firm that helped Dominion Voting Systems secure a $787.5 million settlement from Fox News over false claims about the 2020 election.
The move is part of Trump’s broader effort to punish firms and attorneys who have opposed his interests, particularly in cases involving the 2020 election.
The executive order is designed to severely restrict the firm’s operations by blocking its attorneys from accessing government buildings, revoking security clearances, and preventing it from representing clients with business before the federal government.
Trump’s reasoning behind the order was not fully explained, but he stated in the Oval Office, “There were some very bad things that happened with these law firms.”
Susman Godfrey represented Dominion in its successful defamation lawsuit against Fox News, which avoided a trial by settling for a substantial amount. This ruling was part of ongoing legal battles regarding false claims of a rigged election.
In a related case, a Delaware judge recently ruled that Newsmax Media defamed Dominion as well, continuing the wave of legal challenges stemming from election misinformation.
Trump has issued similar orders against five other law firms—Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie, Paul Weiss, Jenner & Block, and WilmerHale—many of which have pushed back in court. Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, and WilmerHale have filed lawsuits against Trump, with some successfully earning preliminary court orders that blocked these executive actions.
On Tuesday, Susman Godfrey filed an amicus brief supporting Perkins Coie’s legal challenge against Trump’s actions. Stephen Miller, a senior advisor to Trump, argued that Susman Godfrey was deeply involved in what he described as “election misconduct.”
The legal community has criticized Trump’s actions, with experts labeling the orders unconstitutional. They argue that these actions violate the First Amendment rights to free speech and the Sixth Amendment right to legal representation. Many see these efforts as part of Trump’s strategy to intimidate lawyers and law firms from opposing him in court.
In response to Trump’s increasing pressure, some major law firms, including Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom; Milbank LLP; and Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, have already negotiated settlements with the Trump administration to avoid being targeted by similar executive orders. Meanwhile, several of the country’s largest law firms have stayed silent as others face the brunt of these measures.
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