The suspension was issued “pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest,” the White House said.
The law firm worked closely with Democrats who Trump has criticized over inquiries into his conduct, including during special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Trump’s alleged ties with Russia during his first election campaign. No collusion was found between Trump and Russia.
In his order, Trump singled out Paul Weiss’s hiring of attorney Mark Pomerantz, who left the firm to work in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to draft a prosecution against Trump regarding the president’s personal and business affairs. Pomerantz rejoined Paul Weiss after leaving the district attorney’s office.
In addition, a partner of the law firm and a former leading prosecutor in Mueller’s office brought a pro bono suit against individuals alleged to have taken part in the events of Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol on behalf of the District of Columbia attorney general. Trump said such pro bono cases deprived the accused in the Jan. 6 incidents of access to justice they deserved. Paul Weiss also served as counsel in a case against the Proud Boys.
Trump also accused Paul Weiss of discriminating against its own employees on the basis of race and other factors prohibited by civil rights laws.
“Paul Weiss, along with nearly every other large, influential, or industry leading law firm, makes decisions around ‘targets’ based on race and sex,” he stated in Friday’s order.
Paul Weiss issued a statement on Friday noting that Pomerantz “has not been affiliated with the firm for many years.”
“The terms of a similar order were enjoined as unconstitutional earlier this week by a federal district court judge,” the law firm further stated in its response to Trump’s order.
Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who worked in the Obama administration, previously worked for Paul Weiss.
In his order regarding Paul Weiss, Trump railed against global law firms for their role in undermining the judicial process, accusing them of activities that make communities less safe, increasing burdens on local businesses, limiting constitutional freedoms, and undermining American elections.
Trump portrayed the relationship between Paul Weiss and officials as “Government sponsorship of harmful activity” of the law firm.
The suspension of security clearances of the firm’s employees is the third time Trump has taken executive action against a major U.S. law firm.
“Notably, in 2016 while representing failed Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Perkins Coie hired Fusion GPS, which then manufactured a false ‘dossier’ designed to steal an election,” Trump stated in the order.
“This egregious activity is part of a pattern. Perkins Coie has worked with activist donors including George Soros to judicially overturn popular, necessary, and democratically enacted election laws, including those requiring voter identification.”
