Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(151,141 posts)
Wed Apr 9, 2025, 06:53 AM Apr 9

Democrats press law firms on deals with Trump

Source: msn/The Hill

11h


Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) are pressing the White House and six top law firms about alleged deals struck with the Trump administration to avoid getting targeted by executive orders for hiring lawyers and representing clients whom the president does not like.

In the letter to White House counsel David Warrington, Blumenthal and Raskin — the top Democrats on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the House Judiciary Committee, respectively — noted that President Trump has targeted five law firms in recent weeks in executive orders that explicitly detail “his personal grievances which led to its issuance.”

“The retaliatory nature of these executive orders has not been even tacitly disguised,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter, noting that the orders have targeted firms with connections to cases against Trump or lawyers connected to those cases. “This unprecedented abuse of executive power to settle personal scores is part of a broader effort by President Trump to use the powers of the presidency to intimidate and silence his perceived enemies,” they added.

Blumenthal and Raskin wrote that the orders have tried to punish the firms by revoking attorneys’ security clearances, barring them from federal buildings, terminating any government contracts, and preventing them from seeking further government employment.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-press-law-firms-on-deals-with-trump/ar-AA1CyE3X



Link to Senators Blumenthal and Raskin LETTER (PDF) - https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025-4-6-Blumenthal-Raskin-Letter-to-Milbank.pdf

(just as a FYI note - when you see reports of what are dubbed "sternly worded letters", most are actually REQUESTING INFORMATION from the recipients of those letters, with due dates)
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Democrats press law firms on deals with Trump (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Apr 9 OP
Well Said Y'all! MayReasonRule Apr 9 #1
Re: your FYI FBaggins Apr 9 #2
This is the process that legislators go through BumRushDaShow Apr 9 #3
It isn't new to me at all... but you caught your own error there at the end FBaggins Apr 9 #4
You COMPLETELY miss the point of my note BumRushDaShow Apr 9 #6
These law firms are WIMPS. Callie1979 Apr 9 #5
GOOD! Paladin Apr 9 #7

MayReasonRule

(3,174 posts)
1. Well Said Y'all!
Wed Apr 9, 2025, 06:57 AM
Apr 9


(just as a FYI note - when you see reports of what are dubbed "sternly worded letters", most are actually REQUESTING INFORMATION from the recipients of those letters, with due dates)

FBaggins

(28,083 posts)
2. Re: your FYI
Wed Apr 9, 2025, 07:03 AM
Apr 9

How does that make it anything other than a “sternly worded letter”? Neither of them has the power to require a response - let alone to set a due date for that response.

BumRushDaShow

(151,141 posts)
3. This is the process that legislators go through
Wed Apr 9, 2025, 07:10 AM
Apr 9

or is that new to you?

They request info "nicely" and most comply. If they need more, they will send another letter to request more and/or clarifications to what was sent. But if the request is ignored, then they will send another letter referencing the previous request and asking "nicely" again if they could get that info. If that continues to be ignored, then they start escalating.

At that point, the subpoenas start happening, although with Democrats in the minority, the majority GOP would probably not allow it, BUT depending on the subject (in the rare cases of "bipartisan" agreement), they might.

Would you rather them sit there and just talk during hearings broadcast on the CSPANs and then off to the liquid lunch?

FBaggins

(28,083 posts)
4. It isn't new to me at all... but you caught your own error there at the end
Wed Apr 9, 2025, 07:15 AM
Apr 9

Congress has oversight authority… individual members do not. Your timeline fits precisely what could occur ifthe requesting member were part of the majority.

There are no “teeth” to the implied threat beyond “we might be in the majority again in a few years and you don’t want to piss us off”

The irony to that of course… is it’s the same behavior they’re complaining about.

BumRushDaShow

(151,141 posts)
6. You COMPLETELY miss the point of my note
Wed Apr 9, 2025, 07:23 AM
Apr 9

But that is not unexpected.

My POINT was to say that these LETTERS are not just "scolding" but are ALSO "requests for information" but you prefer to be contrarian for whatever reason.

Callie1979

(655 posts)
5. These law firms are WIMPS.
Wed Apr 9, 2025, 07:20 AM
Apr 9

At the WORST they'd have to go practice law somewhere else which they could EASILY do with their pedigree.

Paladin

(30,216 posts)
7. GOOD!
Wed Apr 9, 2025, 08:16 AM
Apr 9

THAT'S the sort of decisive anti-trump action we ought to be seeing from Democratic leadership, every day!

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Democrats press law firms...