President Trump issued an order targeting law firm Susman Godfrey, the firm that helped Dominion Voting Systems secure a $787 million settlement against Fox News after the 2020 election.
Trump’s order will ban the firm from accessing government buildings, viewing documents or representing any party who has any litigation with the federal government.
The Hill reports:
“Lawyers and law firms that engage in activities detrimental to critical American interests should not have access to our Nation’s secrets, nor should their conduct be subsidized by Federal taxpayer funds or contracts,” the order reads.
The president said the move was necessary “to address the significant risks, egregious conduct, and conflicts of interest,” at Susman Godfrey.
The firm, in a statement, responded that “anyone who knows Susman Godfrey knows we believe in the rule of law, and we take seriously our duty to uphold it.”
“This principle guides us now,” the company said. “There is no question that we will fight this unconstitutional order.”
Susman Godfrey helped voting systems provider Dominion secure a multi-million dollar settlement in 2022 against Fox News over false claims it aired after the 2020 presidential election promoted by Trump and his allies.
Trump’s order comes the same week a Delaware judge ruled that cable news channel Newsmax aired false and defamatory statements about Dominion Voting Systems as part of its coverage of the 2020 election.
On Thursday, Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis ruled the statements made on Newsmax were defamatory, and Dominion must now prove in court the channel acted with “actual malice” to harm the company’s reputation.
Davis’s ruling comes ahead of a jury trial that is slated to begin later this month in connection with the voting system provider’s defamation lawsuit against the conservative cable channel. (RELATED: Report: Fox News Reaches Last-Minute Settlement With Dominion Voting Systems)
Dominion sued Newsmax in 2021 over a series of claims alleging the company’s machines were manipulated to swing votes in President Biden’s favor and against former President Trump.
In a new statement Wednesday, Newsmax said it “covered both sides of the 2020 election dispute fairly. At no time did it defame Dominion. This case represents a serious threat to free speech and a free press and Newsmax will defend itself vigorously at trial.”
