The American Bar Association filed suit against the U.S. Department of Justice Wednesday, claiming the department illegally terminated federal grants designated for survivors of domestic violence in retaliation for the organization’s continued criticism of President Donald Trump’s administration.
Attorneys from the Democracy Forward Foundation filed a 31-page complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of the ABA, and asked the court to preemptively and permanently enjoin the department, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche from canceling over $3.2 million provided through five grants from the department’s Office on Violence Against Women. The grants include guidance for civil attorneys representing domestic violence victims, with training to address gender-based violence, domestic, and sexual violence in the LGBTQIA+ community.