President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday suspending the security clearances of employees at Perkins Coie, a law firm historically associated with Democratic Party legal efforts. The order also directs federal agencies to restrict the firm’s access to government facilities and terminate any active contracts with it.
Reason for the Suspension
The Trump administration cited national security concerns as justification for the move, referencing Perkins Coie’s past involvement in Democratic-funded opposition research, including its role in commissioning the controversial Steele dossier during the 2016 election. The firm had hired Fusion GPS, which in turn employed former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to investigate then-candidate Trump’s alleged ties to Russia. The dossier, though widely publicized, was later criticized for containing unverified and discredited claims.
Speaking at the Oval Office while signing the executive order, Trump stated, “This is an absolute honor to sign. What they’ve done is just terrible. It’s weaponization against a political opponent, and it should never be allowed to happen again.”
Perkins Coie's Response
The law firm, which has represented major corporations like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, denounced the executive order, calling it "patently unlawful" and vowing to challenge it in court. A spokesperson for Perkins Coie stated, “We have reviewed the Executive Order. It is patently unlawful, and we intend to challenge it.”
Broader Implications
This action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to target individuals and entities perceived as political adversaries. The administration previously revoked security clearances of lawyers from Covington & Burling who had worked with Special Counsel Jack Smith, as well as those of former intelligence officials who had signed a letter regarding the Hunter Biden laptop case.
Legal experts have raised concerns about the move, arguing that it undermines the principle that all individuals and organizations should have the right to legal representation without political interference. Some have warned that such actions could have a chilling effect on law firms engaging in politically sensitive cases in the future.
With Perkins Coie vowing legal action, this latest escalation between the Trump administration and the legal community is expected to be contested in court, potentially setting a precedent for how security clearances are handled in politically charged situations.