- An executive order by Donald Trump accused Perkins Coie of “undermining democratic elections” and “the integrity of our courts” as well as engaging in racial discrimination. The order calls for the suspension of security clearances, the terminations of contracts, limitation of access to federal government buildings, and more. The law firm intends to challenge it, per a spokesperson.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday targeting a law firm that once had ties to his prior rival: Hillary Clinton.
In the words of the executive order, Perkins Coie represented the “failed” presidential candidate in 2016 and hired the research firm that supposedly “manufactured a false ‘dossier’ designed to steal an election,” a reference to the Steele dossier that has since been discredited, but at the time alleged ties between Trump and Russia.
It also claims Perkins Coie worked with billionaire George Soros, the Democratic donor who has become a boogeyman for Republicans, and accuses the law firm of racial discrimination via diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that the Trump administration intends to dismantle.
“The dishonest and dangerous activity of the law firm Perkins Coie has affected this country for decades,” the order reads, accusing the firm of “undermining democratic elections” and “the integrity of our courts.”
The executive order calls for suspending any security clearances held by individuals at Perkins Coie; ceasing the provision of any government goods, property, material, and services, and sensitive information to the law firm; and requiring government contractors to disclose any business they do with Perkins Coie.
The order also directs agency heads to disclose business they do with Perkins Coie and, if the law permits, terminate any contracts; limit official access to federal government buildings for employees of Perkins Coie; and refrain from hiring those employees.
The exceptions are limited and must “not threaten the national security of the United States.”
When asked for comment, a White House spokesperson pointed Fortune to Trump’s remarks as he signed the order.
In the Oval Office, Trump called the executive order “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.”
A spokesperson for Perkins Coie said “we have reviewed the Executive Order. It is patently unlawful, and we intend to challenge it,” in a statement to Fortune.
Senator Richard Blumenthal posted the Perkins Coie news on X and wrote: “This retaliatory pique might seem humorous or trivial in isolation, but it has to be considered alongside similar attacks on other firms and on other acts of free speech. A chilling sign of repression ahead.”
Blumenthal appeared to allude to the fact that this isn’t the first time Trump has gone after a law firm via an official order. Last month, he signed an order stripping lawyers for Covington & Burling of their security clearances and putting an end to any work the firm has with the federal government. That firm represented special counsel Jack Smith, who prosecuted Trump for the Department of Justice under the prior presidential administration.
Following the Covington & Burling news, Walter Olson, a senior fellow at libertarian think tank the Cato Institute, wrote: “The move is an extraordinary attack on the independence of the bar and bids to chill the willingness of many lawyers to take on as clients and zealously advocate for the interests of those Trump considers his enemies.”
The American Bar Association directed Fortune to an earlier statement regarding intimidation from its president William Bay, who wrote: “Lawyers must be free to represent clients and perform their ethical duty without fear of retribution… We reject the notion that the government can punish lawyers who represent certain clients or punish judges who rule certain ways. We cannot accept government actions that seek to tip the scales of justice in this manner.”
