DOJ lawyer has no idea if Trump has written agreements with Big Law firms beyond his Truth Social posts

A Justice Department lawyer said successful national tribunal Thursday that helium didn't cognize if President Donald Trump had written agreements with Big Law firms beyond what helium has shared online.

"I cognize of thing beyond the mostly publically disposable information," Richard Lawson said erstwhile US District Judge Loren AliKhan asked him astir immoderate written agreements.

Despite representing the Trump medication successful court, Lawson said helium didn't cognize astir thing written down beyond "press releases" astir the deals.

"I cognize of nary different documents than that," helium said. "That's not saying determination isn't any, but I cognize of nary other."

Nine Big Law firms person made deals with Trump, pledging a full of astir $1 cardinal successful pro bono hours toward his governmental priorities. As portion of the deal, the firms avoided enforcement orders targeting them.

Thursday's hearing, successful a Washington, DC, national court, was implicit a suit brought by Susman Godfrey, 1 of 4 instrumentality firms connected the receiving extremity of Trump's harsh enforcement orders.

Trump issued an enforcement bid successful April that would person stripped Susman Godfrey attorneys of information clearances, chopped the steadfast disconnected from authorities contracts, and perchance barred lawyers from courthouses, station offices, and different authorities buildings.

AliKhan rapidly issued a impermanent restraining bid blocking the implementation of Trump's order, and is weighing whether she would permanently artifact it.

For the 9 firms that did travel to an statement with Trump, the presumption look to beryllium vague.

Trump's Truth Social posts announcing each woody are lone astir 400 words long. They bash not specify clip horizons for pro bono donations, making it unclear however overmuch enactment the firms volition lend during the remainder of Trump's term. And they bash not see immoderate details astir reporting requirements for the promises firms made implicit divers hiring practices.

Bloomberg Law reported earlier successful May connected copies of written agreements betwixt the White House and 4 instrumentality firms: Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and A&O Shearman. Those written agreements bash not see immoderate circumstantial details connected however they would comply with the deals, Bloomberg Law said.

The 4 firms besides struck deals with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, whose chairman sent letters to 20 instrumentality firms inquiring astir their diverseness practices. Outside counsel for the 4 firms said they would taxable "a confidential written certification" each 4 months done the extremity of Trump's term, according to Bloomberg Law.

When asked astir the written agreements, an EEOC spokesperson told Business Insider, "We don't person thing for you connected this."

Neither the White House nor the 9 instrumentality firms that made deals with Trump person provided accusation astir imaginable underlying agreements.

Representatives for the White House did not respond to requests for remark astir the deals.

None of the 9 firms that struck deals responded to requests for remark astir written agreements with Trump.