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 issued directives focused on Jenner and Block, Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling, though the action on Covington was smaller in scope and affected just one attorney’s security clearance. The president rescinded an order targeting Paul Weiss after the firm agreed to dedicate $40 million in pro bono legal services during Trump’s term to support his administration’s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 and then retired in 2021.
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.”
A WilmerHale spokesperson said in a statement that the firm was aware of the new executive order and that it was similar to the order targeting Perkins Coie, which a federal judge has temporarily blocked.
“Our firm has a longstanding tradition of representing a wide range of clients, including in matters against administrations of both parties,” according to the statement.
Mueller couldn’t be immediately located for comment. The WilmerHale spokesperson said Mueller “had a long, distinguished career in public service, from his time as a Marine Corps officer in Vietnam to his leadership of the FBI in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks.”
Trump intensified his scrutiny of the American legal system by directing Attorney General Pam Bondi last week to “review conduct” by lawyers and firms who engage in “frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation” against the US. He said Bondi’s review of litigation against the government should extend over the past eight years to the start of his first administration.
The president’s actions have drawn criticism from the legal community, with nearly 80 law school deans this week releasing a letter “condemning any government efforts to punish lawyers or their firms based on the identity of their clients or for their zealous lawful and ethical advocacy.”
In addition to targeting law firms, Trump has also gone after the judiciary. On March 18 he called for the impeachment of a judge who ruled against his effort to swiftly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members. Chief Justice John Roberts countered that call with his own rare public statement.
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