President Donald Trump has threatened new sanctions against lawyers and legal firms that attempt to frustrate his immigration agenda.
On Friday, the President sent a memorandum to Attorney General Pam Bondi, stating that lawyers were driving “rampant fraud and meritless claims” and directing her to seek professional misconduct proceedings against them.
Trump’s memorandum also targeted law firms that sue the Trump administration in “baseless partisan lawsuits.” The President asked AG Bondi to refer the names of such firms to the White House, so they can have their security clearances revoked and be stripped of federal contracts.
The Trump administration has been hit with over 100 lawsuits challenging the President’s Executive Orders and actions on immigration, transgender rights and a number of other issues since 20 January. Advocacy groups and at least a dozen law firms are behind the suits.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said “President Trump is delivering on his promise to ensure the judicial system is no longer weaponized against the American people.”
Earlier this month, President Trump issued Executive Orders against law firms Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss, revoking their security clearances and restricting access to federal buildings, officials and contracts. Last month, the President did the same for lawyers at Covington and Burling.
On Thursday, Paul Weiss made a deal with the Trump administration to lift the Executive Order against it. The firm pledged $40 million in free legal work to support a number of the administration’s causes.