🧵🧵 The Law Firms that Run DC
I see a lot of articles saying how President Trump is attacking law firms in Washington DC because he is vindictive. When in fact, it has nothing to do with being vindictive, and everything to do with the fact that they are acting like an…
— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) March 22, 2025
3/8 One of the leverage points that led us to that potential political monopoly is a BigLaw monopoly, in turn abetted by a Top 25 Law School faculty monopoly — and indeed by a collegiate and elementary and secondary school ideologic monopoly.
The law professors are predominantly…
— Jeff Clark (@JeffClarkUS) March 22, 2025
When Donald Trump was on the back foot in 2022, “law firms let their partners know … you go to work for Trump and you're dead to this industry,” says @MarcACaputo. Now, with his sanctions on multiple white shoe law firms, “this is an example of Donald Trump, like some sort of… pic.twitter.com/Kb552b0WFC
— 2WAY (@2waytvapp) March 23, 2025
Who does @MarkHalperin think is the loser of the week in politics? It’s Paul Weiss, the white show law firm that bent the knee to Donald Trump after he sanctioned it for what he cited as unethical behavior. “They are huge losers,” says Mark. “They think they've saved the firm.… pic.twitter.com/C4Db7A48Vg
— 2WAY (@2waytvapp) March 23, 2025
Grok says:
Trump’s war on Big Law escalated in early 2025, with executive orders targeting firms like Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie, and Paul Weiss, stripping attorneys of security clearances and terminating government contracts.
The administration’s actions stem from these firms’ representation of clients opposing Trump’s agenda, including Democratic campaigns and progressive causes, as highlighted by their roles in election lawfare and Russiagate.
Bloomberg Law reported on March 21, 2025, that firms like WilmerHale, Paul Weiss, Cooley, and Davis Polk scrubbed references to their lawyers’ roles in Robert Mueller’s investigation from their websites, fearing further retaliation.
WilmerHale, a key player in Mueller’s probe, removed Mueller’s biography page between November 2024 and March 2025, while also facing an EEOC investigation into its diversity programs alongside Cooley.
Marc Elias, a prominent Democratic lawyer, is a focal point of Trump’s ire—his former firm Perkins Coie and current Elias Law Group have been central to election lawsuits and efforts to disqualify Trump under the 14th Amendment.
Above the Law noted on March 19, 2025, that Big Law leadership has stayed silent, likely to avoid Trump’s notice, but the administration’s actions suggest more firms could be targeted for their political affiliations.
The thread’s mention of firms like Latham & Watkins and Covington & Burling aligns with their documented ties to Biden-era officials and progressive litigation, making them likely candidates for Trump’s next moves.
Debevoise & Plimpton’s representation of Hunter Biden, including a collapsed 2023 plea deal, adds fuel to Trump’s narrative of Big Law as a Democratic shield, potentially intensifying scrutiny on such firms.
Skadden Arps’ involvement in the Ukraine lobbying scandal, where it avoided major accountability despite FARA violations, contrasts with harsher treatment of Trump affiliates, highlighting perceived legal double standards that Trump may exploit.
