Justice Department Accuses Judge Overseeing Perkins Coie Case of Bias Against Trump, Urges Recusal
The Justice Department on Friday argued that the federal judge who is overseeing Perkins Coie’s case against President Donald Trump has demonstrated “partiality” against the president, and “animus” toward him.
The DOJ lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell to recuse herself from the case over the appearance of partiality, citing the current lawsuit, which she partially blocked, and other previous rulings, The Hill reported.
The lawsuit challenges an executive order by the president that targeted the Perkins Coie law firm. The order cited the firm’s “dishonest and dangerous activity,” stripping it of its clearances and essentially barring its attorneys from federal buildings.
Perkins Coie previously worked with the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign in 2016 and Fusion GPS to produce the discredited Steele Dossier.
“Reasonable observers may view this Court as incapable of fairly adjudicating these claims against the Commander-In-Chief,” Deputy Associate Attorney General Richard Lawson wrote in the motion. “This Court’s pattern of hostility toward President Trump is not limited to his supporters. It also utilized the judicial power against President Trump himself.” (Read more from “Justice Department Accuses Judge Overseeing Perkins Coie Case of Bias Against Trump, Urges Recusal” HERE)
