By Steve Neavling
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order punishing the law firm Susman Godfrey, calling it a “shocking abuse of power” aimed at retaliating against political critics, NBC News reports.
Susman Godfrey previously secured a $787 million settlement from Fox News over false claims related to the 2020 election. Trump’s order sought to cancel the firm’s federal contracts and revoke security clearances.
“The framers of our Constitution would see this as a shocking abuse of power,” U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan said.
Legal experts described Trump’s actions as unprecedented, noting they undermine the independence of the Justice Department by weaponizing it against opponents.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields insisted Trump had not intervened directly in criminal cases, saying the Justice Department “is acting completely independently.”
The judge’s order temporarily halts enforcement of Trump’s directive while the court reviews its legality.
