A U.S. District Judge, Amir Ali, issued a ruling on Tuesday blocking President Donald Trump's attempt to revoke the security clearance of attorney Mark Zaid. The judge determined that the action was taken in "retribution" and without the necessary due process. Judge Ali stated that the government failed to conduct an individualized national security assessment before canceling Zaid's clearance, which he had held for over two decades.

Zaid, who has represented whistleblowers, including one who reported concerns regarding Trump's dealings with Ukraine, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in May after his security clearance was rescinded. The administration's order claimed it was "no longer in the national interest" for Zaid and several other prominent Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to access classified information.

In his ruling, Judge Ali granted Zaid a preliminary injunction to restore his security clearance and access to classified information, although he placed a 21-day hold on the order to allow the Justice Department to consider an appeal. If no appeal is filed, the restoration is set to take effect on January 13.

The judge also dismissed a motion from the Justice Department to dismiss Zaid's lawsuit. In a statement following the ruling, Zaid characterized the decision as a critique of the Trump administration's efforts to intimidate legal professionals, particularly those representing individuals who challenge government actions. He expressed his commitment to continue defending whistleblowers against retaliation.