DOJ Issues Subpoenas to Law Firms Involved in Trump-Era Agreements

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued subpoenas to nine law firms that previously entered into agreements to provide nearly $1 billion in legal services during the Trump administration. The subpoenas request all communications between the firms and Boris Epshteyn, a personal lawyer to former President Trump, regarding the implementation and enforcement of their agreements with the White House. The DOJ is also seeking to depose leaders from these firms. This development follows a lawsuit filed by the American Bar Association, which criticized Trump's targeting of law firms as unprecedented and dangerous to the rule of law. The DOJ's actions appear to be in response to this lawsuit, as it seeks similar information from the firms while awaiting a federal judge's ruling on the matter. Four law firms that previously challenged Trump's orders in court had a federal judge rule those actions unconstitutional, and the DOJ had abandoned its appeal of that decision earlier this year.