Junior lawyers revolt after bosses bow to Trump ‘intimidation'
More than 1,600 associates have signed an open letter to condemn the world's biggest law firms, which they claim have not done enough to combat the US president's 'bullying'.
The protest is gaining momentum after Mr Trump signed a string of executive orders targeting American law firms over their work for political opponents and their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The orders have effectively banned the firms from carrying out government work as their lawyers are not allowed to enter federal buildings.
The open letter says: 'Over the past several weeks, the Executive Branch has launched an all-out attack aimed at dismantling rule-of-law norms, including by censuring individual law firms by name because of past representation.'
Signatories to the letter include hundreds of lawyers from some of the firms affected, including Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie, Paul Weiss and Wilmer Hale.
The letter says: 'Our system is predicated on the idea that everyone is entitled to zealous representation. Our duty as lawyers to conscientiously pursue our clients' interests, regardless of whether we personally agree with those interests, is a bedrock principle within the legal profession.
'When we are united, we cannot be intimidated. These tactics only work if the majority does not speak up. Our hope was that our employers, some of the most profitable law firms in the world, would lead the way. That has not yet been the case.'
Despite Mr Trump's attack on the legal industry, the vast majority of firms have chosen to stay silent. This has prompted some industry experts to warn of a 'chilling effect'.
Criticism has also intensified after Paul Weiss agreed to carry out $40m (£31m) worth of pro bono work for the Trump administration in exchange for the president's executive order being overturned.
Brad Karp, Paul Weiss's chairman, later accused rival firms of 'seeking to exploit our vulnerabilities by aggressively soliciting our clients and recruiting our attorneys'.
Details of the open letter have emerged after Mr Trump signed an executive order against WilmerHale on Thursday, as he claimed the firm is 'bent on employing lawyers who weaponise' the law.
The executive order cited WilmerHale's decision to hire Robert Mueller, who previously led an investigation into claims Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
As for the other firms targeted, Mr Trump signed an order against Covington & Burling over work its lawyers carried out on regarding the Jan 6 2021 riots at the Capitol.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Ukraine says it struck a Russian airbase as Russia sent hundreds of drones into Ukraine
Ukraine said it struck a Russian airbase on Saturday, while Russia continued to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones overnight as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than 3-year-old war. Ukraine's military General Staff said Saturday that Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk airbase in Russia's Voronezh region, describing it as the 'home base' of Russia's Su-34, Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets. Writing on Facebook, the General Staff said it hit a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft and 'possibly other aircraft." Russian officials did not immediately comment on the attack. Russia fired 322 drones and decoys into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukraine's air force said. Of these, 157 were shot down and 135 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. According to the air force, Ukraine's western Khmelnytskyi region was the main target of the attack. Regional Gov. Serhii Tyurin said Saturday that no damage, injuries or deaths had been reported. Russia has been stepping up its long-range attacks on Ukraine. Waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv overnight into Friday in the largest aerial assault since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, killing one person and wounding at least 26 others. The fresh wave of attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that he had a 'very important and productive' phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. The two leaders discussed how Ukrainian air defenses might be strengthened, possible joint weapons production between the U.S. and Ukraine, and broader U.S-led efforts to end the war with Russia, according to a statement by Zelenksyy. Asked Friday night by reporters about the call, Trump said, 'We had a very good call, I think.' When asked about finding a way to end the fighting, Trump said: 'I don't know. I can't tell you whether or not that's going to happen.' The U.S. has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defense missiles. Ukraine's main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack. Zelenskyy says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine's domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time. Russia's Defense Ministry said it shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday, along with 12 further drones on Saturday morning. No casualties were reported.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Trump calls bankers a term long considered antisemitic
"The meaning of Shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates," Trump said after disembarking from Air Force One. "You view it differently. I've never heard that." Anti-bigotry groups were quick to condemn Trump, saying the president has a long history of making antisemitic remarks and should have known better. "Shylock is among the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes," said Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the nonpartisan Jewish Council for Public Affairs and an expert on antisemitism and extremism. "This is not an accident," Spitalnick said in a post on X. "It follows years in which Trump has normalized antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories -- and it's deeply dangerous." The Anti-Defamation League, which combats antisemitism and racism worldwide, said the term "evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous." "President Trump's use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible," the ADL said, also in a post on X. "It underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country. Words from our leaders matter and we expect more from the President of the United States." 'Shylocks and bad people' who 'destroyed a lot of families' Trump's remark came at a campaign-style rally speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines for a "Salute to America Celebration." Much of his speech celebrated the passage of his massive budget reconciliation bill earlier in the day. "No death tax. No estate tax. No going to the banks and borrowing from, in some cases, a fine banker -- and in some cases, shylocks and bad people... they destroyed a lot of families," Trump said. "But we did the opposite," Trump said, before describing the budget bill passed along party lines in the House and Senate. The term Shylock dates back centuries. In William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," the main antagonist was a character named Shylock, a Venetian Jewish moneylender portrayed as greedy, ruthless and charging high interest rates on loans. Joe Biden used the term too, then apologized Then-Vice President Joe Biden also used the term in 2014, describing unscrupulous bankers catering to American troops overseas as "these Shylocks who took advantage of these women and men." "Shylock represents the medieval stereotype about Jews and remains an offensive characterization to this day," Abraham Foxman, the ADL's national director said at the time. "The Vice President should have been more careful." Foxman later announced that Biden had reached out to him by phone to apologize. "Not only has he been a stalwart against anti-Semitism and bigotry, but he has the courage and forthrightness to admit a mistake and use it as an opportunity to learn and to teach others about the harmful effects of stereotypes," Foxman said of Biden. "Clearly there was no ill-intent here," Foxman added, "but Joe and I agreed that perhaps he needs to bone up on his Shakespeare." Biden also issued a public apology. "Abe Foxman has been a friend and advisor of mine for a long time," Biden said in a statement. "He's correct, it was a poor choice of words." Trump's history of remarks called antisemitic Trump has portrayed himself as a staunch advocate for Jews. Since retaking office, he has led an aggressive campaign to root out antisemitism at Harvard and other high-profile American universities - a move that some critics said curbs freedom of speech by those criticizing Israel for its war in Gaza. Trump has a long history of making statements that Jewish leaders, historians and civil rights organizations have interpreted as reinforcing antisemitic stereotypes, including jokes about being cheap and aggressive in business and accusations of them being primarily loyal to Israel. He also has associated with known antisemites. In 2015, he told the Republican Jewish Coalition, "You just like me because my daughter happens to be Jewish," and "I'm a negotiator like you folks; we're negotiators." During his first campaign for president in 2016, Trump tweeted an image of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton superimposed on dollar bills with a six-pointed star, widely interpreted as a Star of David. The ADL called it "blatantly antisemitic." Trump also has said any Jew who votes for Democratic "hates their religion" and "should have their head examined" because he has been so supporitive of Israel, which he has referred to as "your country" when addressing a Jewish audience. And in November 2022, Trump hosted far-right extremist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes - and Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West - at his Mar-a-Lago club. Both West and Fuentes were avid supporters of Trump who repeatedly had made antisemitic remarks. Fuentes in particular is a prominent figure among the far-right, peddling white nationalist ideas and openly promoting antisemitic and racist rhetoric. "Bigotry, hate, and antisemitism have absolutely no place in America - including at Mar-A-Lago," Biden administration White House spokesman Andrew Bates told CNN in a statement. "Holocaust denial is repugnant and dangerous, and it must be forcefully condemned." In response to heavy criticism, Trump said West "called me to have dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Shortly thereafter, he unexpectedly showed up with three of his friends, whom I knew nothing about."
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
'Big Beautiful Bill' summary shows the biggest changes for you
? Extension of the 2017 tax cuts: This is the biggest item, costing about $3.7 trillion over the next 10 years, according to the non-partisan Tax Foundation. That's money the federal government won't collect. ? Cuts to health care and food programs: These proposed reductions would save about $1.3 trillion, based on a June 17 report from the Congressional Budget Office. The winners (and losers): Who benefits the most in Trump's "big beautiful" tax bill Skip to: OTHER TAX CUTS, BENEFITS | MORE FUNDING | LESS FUNDING The Penn Wharton Budget Model forecasts that the lowest-income households will be left worse off because of cuts to Medicare and SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. Those Americans could lose $27,500 over a lifetime, while the highest-income households would gain more than $65,000. How people at every income level will fare: Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. Back to top In addition to extending the tax cuts from the 2017 tax bill, Americans who live in high-tax states such as California, New York and New Jersey will get a bigger income tax deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT. That tax break will last only through 2028. In one of the most talked-about provisions and one of Trump's 2024 campaign promises, tips and overtime wages will no longer be taxed - sort of. The final version of the bill set limits on both. Some of the other tax reductions you can expect: Back to top Back to top Back to top How big is the bill for the tax bill? Depending on whom you ask on Capitol Hill, the cost of the bill could be as little as $440 billion, while other, more conventional estimates put the cost at nearly 10 times higher. As Senate Republicans pushed toward passage, they requested that the Joint Committee on Taxation omit the 2017 tax cuts in a new estimate. Without those portions, the bill's total cost falls to $441 billion. Senate Republicans argue that because the bill extends current tax law, those cuts shouldn't be counted. More traditional methods have pegged the cost around $2.7 trillion to $3.3 trillion. Back to top Contributing: Reuters
