‘Recent examples of grossly unethical misconduct are far too common,’ the president said.
President Donald Trump has ordered two top officials to take action against lawyers and law firms he says are violating the law and rules, as his administration faces an onslaught of lawsuits targeting his policies.
Trump on March 22 directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to enforce laws and regulations concerning attorney conduct.
Bondi shall refer for disciplinary action any attorneys whose conduct in federal court “appears to violate professional conduct rules, including rules governing meritorious claims and contentions, and particularly in cases that implicate national security, homeland security, public safety, or election integrity,” the order states.
Trump also said that when Bondi determines an attorney or a law firm has been acting in violation of the rules, she shall recommend to him additional steps, including the possible termination of security clearances.
Trump has recently revoked the security clearances of multiple law firms, although one such revocation was rescinded after the firm pledged to give the government free legal services.
The directive also says that Noem should focus on enforcing attorney conduct and discipline regulations.
The order cites a federal rule that bars attorneys from presenting legal filings for an “improper purpose,” such as harassment, causing unnecessary delay, or “needlessly increas[ing] the cost of litigation.”
Trump said that examples of unethical misconduct from recent years “are far too common.” He referenced how Marc Elias, founder of the Elias Law Group LLP, helped create the dossier compiled on behalf of Hillary Clinton’s campaign in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election.
The president also said that law firms involved in immigration cases “frequently coach clients to conceal their past or lie about their circumstances when asserting their asylum claims, all in an attempt to circumvent immigration policies enacted to protect our national security and deceive the immigration authorities and courts into granting them undeserved relief.”
In a fact sheet, the White House said the president “is delivering on his promise to end the weaponization of government and protect the nation from partisan and bad faith actors who exploit their influence.”
