
Attorney General Bondi blasts judge who blocked executive order targeting law firm Trump sought to punish
CNN
Attorney General Pam Bondi railed against a federal judge who partially blocked enforcement of President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting the Jenner & Block law firm, telling government agencies to stop enforcing the order despite the “blatant overstepping of the judicial power,” while suggesting that the agencies are still permitted “to decide with whom to work.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi railed against a federal judge who partially blocked enforcement of President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting the Jenner & Block law firm, telling government agencies to stop enforcing the order despite the “blatant overstepping of the judicial power,” while suggesting that the agencies are still permitted “to decide with whom to work.” The stark language, written in a memo filed in court documents Tuesday, was issued jointly by Bondi and Russell Vought, director for the Office of Management and Budget, and was required to be sent to all executive branch agencies as part of an order by Judge John Bates who issued a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit brought by the firm. The memo from Bondi and Vought begins: “On March 28, 2025, an unelected district court yet again invaded the policy-making and free speech prerogatives of the executive branch, including by requiring the Attorney General and the OMB Director to pen a letter to the head of every executive department and agency. Local district judges lack this authority, and the Supreme Court should swiftly constrain these judges’ blatant overstepping of the judicial power.” “Of course, as noted in the court order, agencies are permitted to carry on their ordinary course of business which carries with it the authority to decide with whom to work,” the memo continued. The language in the memo, particularly telling agencies they can still choose to not work with the firms, is highly unusual and combative for an attorney general. The memo, filed in federal court, was required as proof that the government was complying with the judge’s order that it would cease enforcement of parts of the executive order. The filing was signed by Chad Mizelle, the attorney general’s chief of staff and acting associate attorney general.

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