11 March 2025 | By Marten Männis
News
Trump Starts Targeting Law Firms
On 6 March, Donald Trump signed an executive order specifically targeting a law firm that worked with the Democratic campaign in 2016. The targeting of Perkins Coie LLP, who had worked with Hillary Clinton and whose two lawyers were associated with the eventual FBI investigation into potential ties by the Trump campaign with Russian operatives to influence the election, signals a monumental step concerning an attack on the rule of law and is deeply worrying as to how a head of state can divert public funds and pressure towards personal grudges.
The executive order, like with any claim Trump and the wider Republican movement has put forth, is devoid of any sourcing and solely rests on unsubstantiated claims. The first paragraph characterises the law firm as ‘dishonest’ and claims that the law firm has been committing ‘dangerous’ activities ‘for decades’. George Soros is mentioned as well. Additionally, the executive order claims that the law firm racially discriminates against its own attorneys, staff, and against applicants. The order aims to revoke any relevant security clearances and to terminate any ongoing federal contracts.
This is the second law firm that Trump has targeted in this manner, the first one being against Covington & Burling in late-February. That time, the ire was directed towards Jack Smith, who led the now-obsolete special counsel investigation against Trump concerning the January 6 Capitol attack and the alleged mishandling of government documents, including classified documents, many of which were found in scattered around Trump’s residence. That directive ordered to revoke all security clearances held by lawyers who had aided Smith in his work.
Immediate commentary around the order has been very concerning, with scholars seeing this as a blatant constitutional violation. The removal of security clearances effectively means that these law firms cannot duly provide services in instances where sensitive government business is involved. Scholars also noted that this is a unique situation, as they could not cite other examples of a United States President taking official action against a law firm over their representation of a client, in particular since the action taken arises from a personal grudge, rather than anything related to either the office of the Presidency or the country overall.
Perkins Coie has decided to hire Williams & Connolly to fight this order, which is considered one of the most optimal choices in fighting the US federal government. This decision at least alleviates worries that no law firms would be willing to represent, fearing potential retribution.
Trump did mention in another Fox News interview that he will be targeting other law firms as well.
This has had a chilling effect on the US rule of law, something the country has been famed for, and is deeply worrying as to what will follow, especially given the damage that the Trump administration has made in just over a month.
