President Trump signed an government order Thursday revoking the safety clearances for attorneys at WilmerHale, a high-powered Washington legislation agency that after employed former particular counsel Robert Mueller.
The order says the legislation agency “has deserted the career’s highest beliefs and abused its professional bono observe to have interaction in actions that undermine justice and the pursuits of the US.”
“WilmerHale engages in apparent partisan representations to realize political ends, helps efforts to discriminate based mostly on race, backs the obstruction of efforts to stop unlawful aliens from committing horrific crimes and trafficking lethal medication inside our borders, and furthers the degradation of the standard of American elections, together with supporting efforts designed to allow noncitizens to vote,” the order reads.
A WilmerHale spokesperson known as Govt Order “illegal” and famous {that a} related order concentrating on one other legislation agency had been enjoined by a federal choose.
“Our agency has a longstanding custom of representing a variety of shoppers, together with in issues towards administrations of each events,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“The Govt Order references Robert Mueller, who retired from our agency in 2021, and had an extended, distinguished profession in public service, from his time as a Marine Corps officer in Vietnam to his management of the FBI within the aftermath of the September eleventh terrorist assaults,” the spokesperson continued. “We stay dedicated to offering professional illustration that our shoppers are entitled and rely on.”
The spokesperson mentioned the agency will pursue “all acceptable cures.”
The order revokes safety clearances for attorneys on the agency, prohibits them from receiving authorities contracts, and limits their entry to authorities buildings.
Mr. Mueller joined WilmerHale in 2014 after greater than a decade as FBI director. He left to function particular counsel directing the investigation into contacts by Mr. Trump’s 2016 presidential marketing campaign with Russian officers. After ending his time period as particular counsel, he returned to non-public observe at WilmerHale.
WilmerHale has additionally represented a number of plaintiffs suing the Trump administration over its insurance policies.
The order is the newest in a sequence of orders penalizing main legislation corporations related to attorneys who’ve labored on investigations into the president or instances towards him. Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block and Paul Weiss have additionally been focused with government orders.
Earlier this month, a federal choose enjoined the order towards Perkins Coie.
