A federal judge on Wednesday refused the Trump administration’s demand to step aside from overseeing Perkins Coie’s lawsuit challenging the president’s targeting of the major law firm.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell said there is a “clear absence of any legitimate basis” for her recusal from the case, instead suggesting that the administration was placing the blame on her for its loss in her court instead of "fallacies” in its legal arguments.

“Though this adage is commonplace, and the tactic overused, it is called to mind by defendants’ pending motion to disqualify this Court: ‘When you can’t attack the message, attack the messenger,’” Howell, an appointee of former President Obama, wrote in a 21-page ruling.

The Justice Department (DOJ)........

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