President Donald Trump has signed a memo at the White House ordering the suspension of security clearances held by lawyers at the prominent Washington law firm Covington & Burling. This move comes in response to the firm providing pro bono legal services to special counsel Jack Smith, who had charged Trump in two criminal cases that were later dismissed after Trump's return to office.
Covington & Burling, an international law firm, includes former Attorney General Eric Holder and ex-Justice Department official Lanny Breuer among its current attorneys. The firm clarified that it had no involvement in Smith's investigation of Trump. They recently agreed to represent Smith in his personal capacity upon realizing he would be the subject of a government investigation.
In response to Trump's directive, a spokesperson for Covington & Burling stated, 'Covington serves as defense counsel to Jack Smith in his personal, individual capacity. We look forward to defending Mr. Smith’s interests and appreciate the trust he has placed in us to do so.'
This action is seen as part of Trump's ongoing efforts to retaliate against perceived political adversaries, with Smith being a particular target. The memo instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to suspend the security clearances of Peter Koski, an attorney representing Smith, and all members, partners, and employees of Covington who assisted Smith during his tenure as special counsel.
Trump's move follows previous attempts to revoke clearances of individuals who have clashed with him politically. Last month, he sought to revoke the clearances of over four dozen former intelligence officials who had raised concerns about the Hunter Biden laptop saga.
The suspension of security clearances for lawyers involved in Smith's case is viewed as an attempt to discourage legal support for investigators who have scrutinized Trump. Bondi and other Republicans have criticized the Justice Department under President Joe Biden, alleging it has been 'weaponized' against conservatives and Trump.
Smith, appointed by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022, oversaw investigations into Trump's handling of classified documents and attempts to overturn the 2020 election. While indictments were issued in both cases, legal challenges led to dismissals and narrowed prosecutions.
