Trump Cuts Security Clearance For Shady Perkins Coie Firm
Attorneys from the politically connected law firm Perkins Coie will no longer have access to classified U.S. government information following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The order cites the firm’s involvement in controversial election-related legal actions and its past role in funding discredited allegations against Trump.
The move follows years of scrutiny over Perkins Coie’s role in Democratic legal efforts, particularly in connection to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. The firm was responsible for retaining Fusion GPS, which hired former British spy Christopher Steele to compile a dossier that was later used to justify surveillance on members of Trump’s team. The claims in the document were later discredited, and federal investigations found no evidence to support accusations of Russian collusion.
Trump’s order directs all relevant agencies to suspend any active security clearances held by individuals associated with the firm while assessing whether they pose a risk to national security. Additionally, federal agencies must disclose whether they have business relationships with Perkins Coie and, where legally possible, terminate those contracts.
The White House justified the action by pointing to the firm’s involvement in legal challenges that sought to weaken voter ID laws, as well as its hiring policies that allegedly discriminated based on race. The administration has positioned the order as a necessary step to prevent firms engaged in politically motivated legal battles from benefiting from federal funds or accessing classified materials.
The order is the latest in a series of national security-related actions taken by Trump, who last month revoked the clearances of intelligence officials who falsely claimed Hunter Biden’s laptop was Russian disinformation. The crackdown has also extended to former government officials tied to lawfare efforts against Trump.
As Trump’s administration continues to reshape national security policies, agencies are expected to review existing contracts and clearances for other firms and individuals involved in past politically motivated investigations.
