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The Daily

‘I Felt Ashamed.’ Why One Lawyer Resigned When His Firm Caved to Trump

The Daily

The New York Times

Daily News, News

4.4102.8K Ratings

🗓️ 7 April 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Over the past few weeks, President Trump has used executive orders to wage war on law firms, specifically targeting those whose lawyers have investigated or sued him, or represented his enemies in court. Michael Barbaro speaks to Thomas Sipp, a lawyer who chose to quit after his firm, Skadden, negotiated a deal to placate the president.

Transcript

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0:00.0

From New York Times, I'm Michael Bobaro.

0:04.2

This is the Daily.

0:06.4

This is an absolute honor to sign.

0:10.3

The president signed an executive order, singling out Perkins Coe.

0:14.2

What they've done is just terrible.

0:18.0

It's weaponization.

0:20.2

Over the past few weeks, Donald Trump has used executive orders to wage war on law firm after law firm.

0:28.0

Those who made the list are a real murderer's row, including Covington and Burling.

0:32.6

Paul Weiss, General & Block, big law, white shoe firm, some of the best lawyers in the country.

0:40.6

Specifically targeting those whose current or former lawyers have investigated him, sued him,

0:47.0

or represented his enemies in court. But rather than fighting Trump...

0:52.0

The Trump administration reached a settlement with the Scadenden-Arps slate and meager firms.

0:57.0

Many of those firms have buckled.

0:59.4

President Trump yesterday rescinded an executive order targeting prominent law firm Paul Weiss.

1:05.4

Millbank joins firms Wilkie Farr and Gallagher, which also cut a deal.

1:09.5

The question left in the air, of course, is who's next?

1:12.2

Negotiating deals that give Trump much of what he wants,

1:16.1

enforcing thousands of the lawyers who work at those firms to make a choice,

1:21.5

remain at firms that have capitulated,

1:25.1

or quit in protest.

1:30.3

Most have chosen to stay.

1:34.3

Thomas Sip chose to quit.

...

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