The ongoing legal battle between President Trump and Governor Gary Cook has taken a new turn, as the federal government attempts to defend the president’s decision to fire Cook. However, Cook’s lawyer is arguing that the president’s actions are invalid due to the alleged misconduct occurring prior to Cook’s appointment to office.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the federal government has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Cook, citing that the allegations of misconduct are “old news” and cannot be used as a legitimate basis for Cook’s removal. However, Cook’s lawyer is pushing back against this argument, stating that the pre-office conduct of Cook was not known at the time of his appointment and therefore cannot be used to justify his firing.

The legal battle between President Trump and Governor Cook has been ongoing since Cook was fired in May 2020. Cook filed a lawsuit against Trump in June 2020, alleging that he was fired in retaliation for his efforts to investigate the president’s potential violations of the Constitution’s emoluments clause. The federal government responded with a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in July 2020, arguing that the allegations against Cook were “old news” and could not be used as a basis for his removal.

Despite the ongoing legal challenges, it remains to be seen how this case will play out in the courts. One thing is certain, however: the battle between President Trump and Governor Cook is far from over.