Donald Trump signs executive order against law firm WilmerHale over ties with political enemies
Trump is suspending security clearances for WilmerHale employees, restricting its access to federal buildings, ending govt contracts that involve the law firm.
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order targeting WilmerHale, marking the latest expansion of the president’s campaign against law firms tied to his political enemies or investigations into his actions.
Trump is suspending security clearances for WilmerHale employees, restricting its access to federal buildings and ending government contracts that involve the law firm. The president has used similar directives against Jenner and Block, Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling. He rescinded an order targeting Paul Weiss after the firm agreed to dedicate $40 million in pro bono legal services during Trump’s term to support his administration’s goals.
WilmerHale drew scrutiny because of its employment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who led a special counsel investigation into Trump and alleged Russian interference in the 2016 elections. Mueller was a WilmerHale partner before that probe, and he rejoined the firm after it concluded.
According to a White House fact sheet describing the executive order, WilmerHale “rewarded” Mueller and two of his colleagues “by welcoming them to the firm after they wielded the power of the Federal government to lead a partisan ‘investigation’ against the President and others.”
