Trump scores legal win in battle over fired U.S. Copyright Office head
President Donald Trump has secured a legal victory in a recent court ruling that denied an emergency request for the reinstatement of Shira Perlmutter as the fired head of the U.S. Copyright Office. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly made the decision, stating that Perlmutter failed to demonstrate irreparable harm if not immediately reinstated.
Perlmutter had filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that neither the president nor his subordinates had the authority to dismiss her from her position, as the head of the U.S. Copyright Office falls under the jurisdiction of the Library of Congress. Trump had previously fired Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress who appointed Perlmutter in 2020. Perlmutter’s lawsuit contends that only the Librarian of Congress has the power to hire or fire the head of the U.S. Copyright Office.
In response to Hayden’s removal, Trump appointed U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as the acting Librarian of Congress. However, Perlmutter and her legal team assert that the president does not have the authority to appoint a Librarian of Congress, as the position is part of the legislative branch, not the executive.
Conversely, lawyers representing Blanche argued in a court filing that the president had the power to remove the Librarian of Congress and designate an acting replacement, emphasizing that the Library of Congress is subject to presidential control as part of the Executive Branch.
Despite the legal back-and-forth, Trump is facing opposition from within his own party regarding his actions towards the Library of Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have reportedly expressed doubts about the president’s authority to name Library officials, questioning the legality of his appointments.
Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) has been vocal in his criticism of Perlmutter’s firing, denouncing it as a “brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis.” Morelle suggested that Trump’s decision to terminate Perlmutter may have been influenced by her refusal to approve Elon Musk’s request to utilize copyrighted works for AI training purposes.
While Perlmutter’s emergency reinstatement request was denied, her lawsuit against the Trump administration is ongoing. Judge Kelly has indicated that he will hear further arguments in the coming weeks, allowing the legal battle to continue.
The original article was written by Rachel Wolf, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. This rewritten content maintains the key points and structure of the original article while providing a unique perspective on the legal dispute surrounding the U.S. Copyright Office and the Library of Congress.
