President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he is suing the law firm Perkins Coie, alleging “egregious and unlawful acts” by a specific attorney at the firm. In the same post, Trump criticized the judge assigned to the case, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, calling her “a highly biased and unfair disaster.” Judge Howell, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, has previously ruled against Trump in a separate case, which he claims was later overturned on appeal.
Trump accused the judge of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and declared that even a “100% perfect case” would be rejected under her watch. The post has reignited debate over Trump’s repeated attacks on the judiciary. Perkins Coie has not yet responded to the lawsuit or Trump’s allegations.
But according to a senior legal affairs reporter for Politico, Trump’s facts are incorrect. The case Trump refers to was actually his lawsuit against Perkins Coie in Florida, which was dismissed by Judge Donald Middlebrooks and resulted in sanctions against Trump and his attorney Alina Habba.
In reality, it is Perkins Coie suing Trump in Washington, D.C., before Judge Howell, in a case involving allegations that Trump issued a retaliatory executive order targeting the firm.
Trump appears confused here. He is suing Perkins Coie in Florida in a case before Judge Middlebrooks that has been dismissed and resulted in sanctions against him and Alina Habba.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 23, 2025
Perkins Coie is suing HIM before Judge Howell over his retaliatory executive order. pic.twitter.com/JTEwzDU75h
