President Donald Trump has reached a peace deal with a prominent law firm, agreeing to lift a punitive executive order in exchange for concessions that include an agreement to do pro bono work on behalf of conservative causes.
The White House said in a social media post Thursday that it would rescind the executive order Trump imposed March 14 on Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison as part of a broader assault on law firms he viewed as antagonistic.
Paul, Weiss pledged to abandon diversity policies and to provide free legal representation equivalent to $40 million for clients with a “full spectrum of political viewpoints” to include the president’s antisemitism taskforce, “fairness in the justice system” and “other mutually agreed projects,” according to the post.
Paul, Weiss had no immediate comment but the White House included a statement from the firm’s chairman, Brad Karp, in the announcement.
“We are gratified that the President has agreed to withdraw the Executive Order concerning Paul, Weiss,” Karp said. “We look forward to an engaged and constructive relationship with the President and his Administration.”
The agreement removes the immediate threat to Paul, Weiss from an order that would have sharply limited its ability to interact with government agencies and its access to government contracts — actions that a federal judge said in a similar case involving another firm appear to violate the Constitution.
Trump issued the executive order to punish Paul, Weiss for its past association with Mark Pomerantz, a former partner who investigated Trump’s finances and payments to porn star Stormy Daniels for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. The lawyer ultimately resigned after District Attorney Alvin Bragg chose not to pursue charges.
“The President is agreeing to this action in light of a meeting with Paul, Weiss Chairman, Brad Karp, during which Mr. Karp acknowledged the wrongdoing of former Paul, Weiss partner, Mark Pomerantz, the grave dangers of Weaponization, and the vital need to restore our System of Justice,” the White House said in the statement.
Trump’s order targeting Paul, Weiss was the third in a series against major firms that in his eyes had employed or in some way assisted his adversaries. A federal judge blocked the administration from enforcing portions of the executive order intended to punish the firm Perkins Coie, which has represented Democratic politicians and causes, including Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell said the “retaliatory animus” of Trump’s order against Perkins is “clear on its face” and appears to violate constitutional restrictions on “viewpoint discrimination.”