The law firms cutting deals with Trump
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 16 April 2025
⏱️ 19 minutes
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Summary
Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has used his office to threaten or punish people he says have wronged him in the past. That includes prominent law firms that have represented Democratic causes or hired attorneys who have investigated him, such as former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III.
To get back on Trump’s good side, some law firms are now pledging to do pro bono work for causes the administration supports. As of late last week, some law firms Trump has pressured have promised him nearly a billion dollars in legal services. Others are taking the administration to court.
Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with law enforcement and criminal justice reporter Mark Berman about how Trump is using the power of the presidency to muzzle private law firms and why many lawyers say his moves undermine the entire justice system.
Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and mixed by Sean Carter.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has tried to get back at those who he believes have wronged him. |
| 0:08.9 | And that includes some of the country's most prominent law firms. |
| 0:13.7 | Donald Trump is ramping up his assault on big law with the president. |
| 0:17.5 | Trump has signed more than 100 executive orders. |
| 0:19.6 | And in some of those orders, |
| 0:26.9 | Trump is targeting law firms directly tied to prosecutors involved in cases that have been against him. |
| 0:34.6 | To get back on his good side, some law firms are now pledging to do free work for causes supported by the Trump administration. |
| 0:39.3 | And as of late last week, the law firms Trump has pressured have promised him nearly a billion dollars in legal services. |
| 0:43.3 | Have you noticed that lots of law firms have been signing up with Trump? |
| 0:48.3 | A hundred million dollars, another hundred million dollars, |
| 0:53.3 | for damages that they've done. |
| 0:59.8 | From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post reports. I'm your guest host, Laura |
| 1:05.9 | Benchoff. It's Wednesday, April 16th. Today, Trump's attacks on big law. |
| 1:13.2 | Law enforcement and criminal justice reporter Mark Berman |
| 1:16.2 | explains how Trump is using the power of the presidency |
| 1:19.5 | to muzzle private law firms |
| 1:21.4 | and why many lawyers say that undermines the country's entire justice system. |
| 1:27.3 | Mark spoke with my colleague Colby Iqqwitz. |
| 1:30.1 | I'll let them take it from here. |
| 1:35.7 | Hey, Mark. Hi, how's it going? Yeah, thanks for being here. Good. Thank you. |
| 1:39.9 | So, Mark, I really want to dig in on what's happening with law firms and the Trump administration. |
| 1:45.0 | What is Trump doing exactly to attack and undermine law firms in this country? |
... |
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