Trump Issues Executive Order Targeting Perkins Coie Lawyers’ Security Clearances

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced on Thursday his intention to suspend the security clearances of attorneys at Perkins Coie, a law firm implicated in the Democratic-funded opposition research regarding potential ties between Trump and Russia. The executive order aims to reassess whether the security clearances for the firm’s lawyers align with national interests.

During the signing in the Oval Office, Trump stated, “This is an absolute honor to sign. What they’ve done is just terrible. It’s weaponization — you could say weaponization against a political opponent, and it should never be allowed to happen again.” The order applies to all active clearances held by individuals at Perkins Coie and mandates a review by the Attorney General and other relevant agency heads.

The directive empowers agency leaders to restrict access for attorneys at Perkins Coie to government facilities if such access threatens national security or contradicts U.S. interests. Furthermore, it calls for an evaluation and potential cancellation of contracts with the firm.

A spokesperson from Perkins Coie expressed intentions to contest the executive order, citing it as “patently unlawful.” The order stems from Perkins Coie’s hiring of Fusion GPS, a research firm responsible for compiling the controversial Steele Dossier, which made unverified claims of Russian connections to Trump.

The dossier, collected by former British spy Christopher Steele, alleged that Russia had information compromising to Trump, though a subsequent report by Special Counsel John Durham found that the FBI could not substantiate its claims. Despite this, Steele has maintained his position regarding the validity of his work.

Critics of the executive order have described it as a troubling move against lawyers who represent clients opposing the Trump administration. Perkins Coie’s involvement in political matters, particularly those aligned against Trump, has made it a target for his administration.

Mark Zaid, a lawyer with a security clearance working on cases involving the Central Intelligence Agency and government whistleblowers, expressed concern over the political implications of revoking clearances. “It is unprofessional, un-American, unethical, and just in total poor taste,” Zaid said, referencing the punitive nature of the order.

The Trump administration has previously dismissed Justice Department prosecutors involved in investigations surrounding Trump and has taken action to revoke clearances for attorneys representing various opposition figures. Legal experts regard this latest order as an extension of those tactics to suppress dissent and intimidate lawyers.

Perkins Coie is known to represent multiple large corporations, including Boeing and Microsoft, and its loss of security clearances could adversely affect its ability to support clients in matters requiring access to classified information. Legal analysts have noted that the executive order appears more focused on political statements than on actual commercial impact.

As the legal community scrutinizes the implications of this executive order, Perkins Coie prepares to mount a legal challenge. This situation underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding political representation in the current administration.