Trump Suspends Security Clearances for Employees of Law Firm Connected To Steele Dossier

Trump Suspends Security Clearances for Law Firm Employees Connected To Steele Dossier

In a sweeping decision, President Donald Trump revoked security clearances for employees of a law firm linked to the Steele Dossier, stoking controversy over intelligence and political ethics.

Key Takeaways

Trump signed an executive order to suspend security clearances for employees of Perkins Coie, which is associated with the Steele Dossier.
Perkins Coie was involved in creating the dossier with funds from the Clinton campaign and the DNC.
The order also initiates a review of DEI practices at major law firms.
Perkins Coie plans to challenge the order, calling it “patently unlawful.”
The White House accused the firm of “lawfare and unlawful DEI practices.”

Trump’s Executive Order

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 6, canceling security clearances for employees at Perkins Coie. This firm played a significant role in creating the controversial Steele Dossier, alleging Trump’s 2016 campaign had Russian connections. Although some allegations, including that Russia was trying to get Trump elected, found support through U.S. intelligence and the Mueller investigation, neither Trump nor any of his associates were found to have been involved.

Funds from the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to Perkins Coie exceeded $1 million in 2016, enabling the hiring of Fusion GPS and ex-British operative Christopher Steele to create the dossier. The dossier’s publication by BuzzFeed News in 2017 was followed by a defamation lawsuit, which was unsuccessful.

Trump targets prominent Democratic-linked law firm https://t.co/CO41jOH1WF

— POLITICO (@politico) March 6, 2025

Grounds for Revocation

The White House’s accusations against Perkins Coie include “lawfare and the weaponization of government,” alongside “unlawful DEI practices.” Consequently, the order prevents the firm from accessing federal resources and triggers an assessment of diversity and inclusion policies across major law firms.

Trump stated, “This is an absolute honor to sign. What they’ve done, it’s just terrible.” The decree echoes Trump’s broader campaign to counteract perceived political adversaries, expanding scrutiny to other law firms and individuals critical of his administration.

Perkins Coie’s Response

Perkins Coie plans to contest the executive order, branding it as “patently unlawful,” according to Axios. The firm’s relations with Democratic entities have reduced, notably since attorney Marc Elias exited in 2021. Despite the White House’s firm stance, no current federal contracts with Perkins Coie were identified.

The order also urged the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to evaluate DEI practices and suggested potential action against personnel linked with the FBI’s Russia probe. Attorney General Pam Bondi spearheads a “Weaponization Working Group” to scrutinize individuals investigating Trump.