Trump signs order targeting law firm that employed Mueller team prosecutor

President Trump signed an order Tuesday targeting a law firm that previously employed Andrew Weissmann, a former federal prosecutor who worked on then-special counsel Robert Mueller’s team.

The order, which targets the law firm Jenner & Block, is the latest move from Trump to punish major firms with ties to critics and individuals he holds grudges against.

White House staff secretary Will Scharf alleged the firm had engaged in “weaponization of the legal system against American principles and values.”

“And Andrew Weissmann is the main culprit with respect to this firm?” Trump asked, calling Weissmann a “bad guy.”

Scharf said Weissmann was “one of a number of reasons” the order was being issued.

“Jenner & Block has had a long history representing clients, paid and pro bono, in their most difficult matters since 1914,” a spokesperson for the law firm said in a statement. “Today, we have been named in an Executive Order similar to one which has already been declared unconstitutional by a federal court. We remain focused on serving and safeguarding our clients’ interests with the dedication, integrity, and expertise that has defined our firm for more than one hundred years and will pursue all appropriate remedies.” 

The order Trump signed Tuesday is similar to others he has signed in recent weeks targeting security clearances, government contracts and access to government buildings for major law firms with ties to lawyers who represented Democrats or worked on cases involving Trump.

One previous order targeted Covington & Burling, which is providing pro bono services to represent former special counsel Jack Smith in his personal capacity. Smith oversaw two federal criminal cases against Trump involving the alleged mishandling of classified documents and his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Another targeted Perkins Coie, which worked for the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016 and worked for a political opposition research company that dug into Trump during his first run for president.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the portion of Trump’s order denying Perkins Coie attorneys entry to federal buildings.

Trump also targeted the Paul Weiss law firm, but it later reached a deal with the administration to have the order rescinded. As part of the agreement, the law firm agreed to provide the equivalent of $40 million in pro bono legal services to support the Trump administration’s initiatives.

Updated at 4:55 p.m. EDT