Trump Takes Security Clearances Away From Workers at Law Firm Involved With Steele Dossier

President Trump’s latest executive order targets a law firm connected to the controversial Steele dossier, revoking security clearances and sparking heated debate.

Quick Takes

Trump revoked security clearances for employees working for Perkins Coie, a law firm involved with the Steele dossier.
The executive order accuses the firm of undermining democratic elections.
Perkins Coie plans to challenge the order, calling it “patently unlawful.”
A broader investigation into DEI practices at law firms has also been instructed.
The Federal Election Commission previously fined involved Democratic entities over related disclosures.

Trump’s Executive Order and Its Implications

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order revoking security clearances for the legal team at Perkins Coie. This law firm was instrumental in the infamous Steele dossier, which alleged connections between Trump and Russia. The dossier, a focal point of heated political debates, was utilized by Trump’s opponents during the 2016 election campaign. Trump’s order follows his allegations against the firm for “weaponization against a political opponent.”

Perkins Coie’s involvement with Fusion GPS in compiling the dossier has been a source of contention since it first broke into the public sphere. The firm has faced criticism for its role, although the broader specifics of the Steele dossier were never fully corroborated. The executive order goes further, disrupting any existing federal contracts Perkins Coie might have had, despite no current ones being recorded.

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

— POLITICO (@politico) March 6, 2025

Broader Legal and Political Ramifications

Perkins Coie has not taken the order lightly, preparing to challenge the revocation in court, which they describe as “patently unlawful.” The firm argues that the order is an unconstitutional move by Trump. Moreover, the order also applies to Covington & Burling, another law firm Trump deems a threat, indicating a strategic pattern in targeting perceived adversaries. This strategy includes a call for review of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) across major law firms by the EEOC.

The implications are profound, with potential ripple effects across political and corporate landscapes. This action represents not just an administrative move, but a broader message sent across the legal community, challenging how large firms leverage political influence.

A Look Back at Steele Dossier Controversy

Originating from BuzzFeed’s decision to publish it in 2017, the Steele dossier’s release set off a chain of events that led to a defamation suit, subsequently dismissed under fair reporting privilege. Although elements of the dossier were correlated by subsequent investigations, including Mueller’s, it remained largely unvalidated. Notably, the Federal Election Commission fined the DNC and the Clinton campaign for non-disclosure of payments related to the dossier’s commission.

This culmination of actions and responses raises significant questions about the ethical boundaries of political endorsement and investigative journalism. The reduced involvement of Perkins Coie with Democratic entities since one of its key attorneys left in 2021 signals a shift likely influenced by these ongoing controversies.