Trump Is Playing Rope-a-Dope With Elite Law Firms

Mr. Toobin is a contributing Opinion writer and the author of “The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy.”

The effort by the Trump administration to penalize major law firms descended into black comedy this week. Last year, four judges ruled that the executive orders targeting the firms were unconstitutional, and months ago the Department of Justice announced plans to appeal.

But on Monday, the Justice Department told the court that it was dropping the appeal; then, on Tuesday, the administration lawyers said they wanted to pursue the appeal after all. The about-face was embarrassing, but it obscured a larger truth of this lamentable episode:........

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