logo
DOJ lawyer has no idea if Trump has written agreements with Big Law firms beyond his Truth Social posts

DOJ lawyer has no idea if Trump has written agreements with Big Law firms beyond his Truth Social posts

Yahoo09-05-2025

A DOJ lawyer says he doesn't know anything about written agreements between Trump and Big Law firms.
Nine firms reached deals with Trump, which he announced on Truth Social.
The posts are light on details and don't explain how the deals would be enforced.
A Justice Department lawyer said in federal court Thursday that he didn't know if President Donald Trump had written agreements with Big Law firms beyond what he has shared online.
"I know of nothing beyond the generally publicly available information," Richard Lawson said when US District Judge Loren AliKhan asked him about any written agreements.
Despite representing the Trump administration in court, Lawson said he didn't know about anything written down beyond "press releases" about the deals.
"I know of no other documents than that," he said. "That's not saying there isn't any, but I know of no other."
Nine Big Law firms have made deals with Trump, pledging a total of nearly $1 billion in pro bono hours toward his political priorities. At the same time, the firms avoided executive orders targeting them.
Thursday's hearing, in a Washington, DC, federal court, was over a lawsuit brought by Susman Godfrey, one of four law firms on the receiving end of Trump's harsh executive orders.
Trump issued an executive order in April that would have stripped Susman Godfrey attorneys of security clearances, cut the firm off from government contracts, and potentially barred lawyers from courthouses, post offices, and other government buildings.
AliKhan quickly issued a temporary restraining order blocking the implementation of Trump's command, and weighed Thursday whether she would permanently block them.
For the nine firms that did come to agreements with Trump, the terms appear to be vague.
Trump's Truth Social posts announcing each deal are only about 400 words long. They do not specify time horizons for pro bono donations, making it unclear how much work the firms will contribute during the remainder of Trump's term. And they do not include any details about reporting requirements for the promises firms made over diverse hiring practices.
Bloomberg Law reported earlier in May on copies of written agreements between the White House and four law firms: Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and A&O Shearman. Those written agreements do not include any specific details on how they would comply with the deals, according to the outlet.
The four firms also struck deals with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, whose chairman sent letters to 20 law firms inquiring about their diversity practices. Outside counsel for the four firms said they would submit "a confidential written certification" every four months through the end of Trump's term, according to Bloomberg Law.
When asked about the written agreements, an EEOC spokesperson told Business Insider, "We don't have anything for you on this."
Neither the White House nor the nine law firms that made deals with Trump have offered up any information about potential underlying agreements.
Representatives for the White House did not respond to requests for comment about the deals.
None of the nine firms that struck deals responded to requests for comment about written agreements with Trump.
Read the original article on Business Insider

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Acclaimed Hip-Hop Star Makes Bold Political Statement at Awards Show
Acclaimed Hip-Hop Star Makes Bold Political Statement at Awards Show

Yahoo

time41 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Acclaimed Hip-Hop Star Makes Bold Political Statement at Awards Show

Acclaimed Hip-Hop Star Makes Bold Political Statement at Awards Show originally appeared on Parade. was named best female hip-hop artist on Monday, June 9, at the BET Awards at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Yet instead of giving the traditional thank-you-laden speech, she focused on what was happening outside of the theater. 'I do wanna address what's happening right now outside of the building,' she said, referencing the protests against ICE raids that are occurring around L.A. 'There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order. [President Donald] Trump is using military force to stop a protest. And I want y'all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?' 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Doechii wasn't done. She explained that she felt it was her duty to use her platform to speak out against injustice. 'People are being swept up and torn from their families, and I feel it's my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people,' she added as the crowd applauded, per Billboard. 'For Black people, for Latino people, for trans people, for the people in Gaza, we all deserve to live in hope and not in fear and I hope we stand together, my brothers and my sisters, against hate and we protest against it.' Several other artists, including Green Day's and of Rage Against the Machine, have also spoken out against the ICE immigration raids in Los Angeles and President Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard to the city against the wishes of Los Angeles Mayor and California Governor .Acclaimed Hip-Hop Star Makes Bold Political Statement at Awards Show first appeared on Parade on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.

Rapper Doechii condemns Trump's immigration raids, protest crackdown at BET Awards
Rapper Doechii condemns Trump's immigration raids, protest crackdown at BET Awards

Yahoo

time41 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Rapper Doechii condemns Trump's immigration raids, protest crackdown at BET Awards

The Brief Doechii used her BET Awards speech to condemn Trump's immigration crackdown and protest response. She questioned the use of military force against demonstrators exercising their rights. The speech comes as protests continue just blocks from the ceremony venue in Los Angeles. LOS ANGELES - Grammy-winning rapper Doechii used her first BET Awards win Sunday night to deliver a pointed message about the protests and immigration raids unfolding just outside the venue doors. After accepting the award for best female hip-hop artist at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, Doechii shifted from thanking fellow nominees to directly criticizing the Trump administration's use of federal troops and immigration enforcement. "There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order," she said. "Trump is using military forces to stop a protest. I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?" Doechii's words received loud applause and a standing ovation from the audience. The backstory The protests in Los Angeles began after large-scale ICE raids and arrests targeting undocumented immigrants across the region. President Donald Trump responded by ordering the deployment of more than 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to assist with immigration enforcement and protect federal property. California officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, have condemned the move as unconstitutional and filed lawsuits arguing that the deployment was made without state approval. Some have accused the Trump administration of using military force to provoke chaos and intimidate protestors. "People are being swept up and torn from their families," Doechii continued. "I feel like it's my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people. … We all deserve to live in hope and not fear. I hope we stand together." What they're saying Doechii's remarks quickly drew praise on social media and among attendees. While other artists have not yet spoken out during the ceremony, her speech set a sharply political tone amid what had otherwise been a celebratory night honoring the 25th anniversary of the BET Awards. Why you should care The BET Awards took place just blocks from where National Guard troops are now stationed in response to protests. As immigration enforcement actions continue, and as artists like Doechii use their platforms to amplify concerns about civil liberties, her speech underscores the growing intersection between entertainment and political activism. What's next State officials are continuing to challenge the troop deployment in court, and protests are expected to continue throughout the week. It remains to be seen whether more performers or public figures will join Doechii in publicly criticizing the federal crackdown. The Source This article is based on Associated Press coverage of the 2025 BET Awards and live footage of Doechii's acceptance speech. Context was informed by official statements from the Trump administration, California state leaders, and legal filings reviewed by the AP.

Donald Trump Reveals Plans For His Tesla After Elon Musk Feud
Donald Trump Reveals Plans For His Tesla After Elon Musk Feud

Newsweek

timean hour ago

  • Newsweek

Donald Trump Reveals Plans For His Tesla After Elon Musk Feud

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump said he is keeping his red Model S Tesla despite his recent feud with Elon Musk, but it might not stay at the White House, where the electric car has been parked since he bought it. Trump was asked by reporters about his plans for the Tesla vehicle and Musk's Starlink satellite internet service, which the White House uses, after the pair had a dramatic and public falling out. "I may move the Tesla around a little bit, but I don't think we'll be doing that with Starlink. It's a good service," Trump told reporters on Monday. Asked what he meant by moving the Tesla, Trump replied: "I have a lot of locations. I got so many locations that I don't know what to do with them all." Trump purchased the vehicle in March as a show of support for Musk and Tesla amid a backlash against the company. This is a developing article. Updates to follow.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store