Shumita Basu

President Trump is threatening and in some cases sanctioning some of the most powerful law firms in the country, firms whose lawyers have challenged him or his administration. Legal scholars are calling this an unprecedented series of actions by a U.S. administration against the legal establishment.

President Trump is threatening and in some cases sanctioning some of the most powerful law firms in the country, firms whose lawyers have challenged him or his administration. Legal scholars are calling this an unprecedented series of actions by a U.S. administration against the legal establishment.

President Trump is threatening and in some cases sanctioning some of the most powerful law firms in the country, firms whose lawyers have challenged him or his administration. Legal scholars are calling this an unprecedented series of actions by a U.S. administration against the legal establishment.

In a series of recent executive orders, Trump revoked security clearances for a number of lawyers at the firm Covington & Burling, who did work for former special counsel Jack Smith. Trump also took away security clearance for the firm Perkins Coie. Two lawyers who used to work there did opposition research for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign.

In a series of recent executive orders, Trump revoked security clearances for a number of lawyers at the firm Covington & Burling, who did work for former special counsel Jack Smith. Trump also took away security clearance for the firm Perkins Coie. Two lawyers who used to work there did opposition research for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign.

In a series of recent executive orders, Trump revoked security clearances for a number of lawyers at the firm Covington & Burling, who did work for former special counsel Jack Smith. Trump also took away security clearance for the firm Perkins Coie. Two lawyers who used to work there did opposition research for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign.

The president issued a similar order against the firm Paul Weiss, which had employed a lawyer who spent several years trying to build a criminal case against Trump in Manhattan.

The president issued a similar order against the firm Paul Weiss, which had employed a lawyer who spent several years trying to build a criminal case against Trump in Manhattan.

The president issued a similar order against the firm Paul Weiss, which had employed a lawyer who spent several years trying to build a criminal case against Trump in Manhattan.

And the president has directed his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to launch a broad review of attorneys involved in litigation against the government over the last eight years so he can decide if he wants to levy more penalties on other firms. The Wall Street Journal reports that more than a dozen law firms have been identified as possible future targets.

And the president has directed his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to launch a broad review of attorneys involved in litigation against the government over the last eight years so he can decide if he wants to levy more penalties on other firms. The Wall Street Journal reports that more than a dozen law firms have been identified as possible future targets.

And the president has directed his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to launch a broad review of attorneys involved in litigation against the government over the last eight years so he can decide if he wants to levy more penalties on other firms. The Wall Street Journal reports that more than a dozen law firms have been identified as possible future targets.

National legal affairs reporter Erin Mulvaney told us these moves have shocked the legal industry and are intimidating high-profile firms.

National legal affairs reporter Erin Mulvaney told us these moves have shocked the legal industry and are intimidating high-profile firms.

National legal affairs reporter Erin Mulvaney told us these moves have shocked the legal industry and are intimidating high-profile firms.

Trump's orders aim to strip these law firms of their business by banning lawyers from government buildings and barring companies that have federal contracts from employing these firms.

Trump's orders aim to strip these law firms of their business by banning lawyers from government buildings and barring companies that have federal contracts from employing these firms.

Trump's orders aim to strip these law firms of their business by banning lawyers from government buildings and barring companies that have federal contracts from employing these firms.

Some of the firms named in Trump's orders are losing clients who say they're afraid of being affiliated with a firm he's targeting. Some places like Perkins Coie have sued the administration. A judge issued a temporary restraining order in their case, and the Trump administration is now seeking to remove the judge from that case.

Some of the firms named in Trump's orders are losing clients who say they're afraid of being affiliated with a firm he's targeting. Some places like Perkins Coie have sued the administration. A judge issued a temporary restraining order in their case, and the Trump administration is now seeking to remove the judge from that case.