President Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on March 6, including the order terminating the security clearances of those who work at the law firm Perkins Coie.
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The law firm Perkins Coie is taking legal action against the Trump administration, alleging that a recent executive order targeting the firm is unconstitutional and is an attempt to retaliate against it for representing clients and causes that are in opposition to the administration.
President Trump issued an executive order last week named “Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP,” accusing the firm of engaging in “dishonest and dangerous activity” aimed at subverting laws and elections, and also alleging racial discrimination within the firm through its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
In the lawsuit filed on Tuesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., attorneys for Perkins Coie argue that the executive order “violates the Constitution and our adversarial system of justice.”
“The clear intent is to intimidate those who advocate for viewpoints that the President perceives as conflicting with the views of his Administration, regardless of whether those views are expressed on behalf of paying clients or pro bono,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit contends that Trump’s executive order poses a threat to Perkins Coie’s ability to advocate for its clients and conduct its business operations. The lawsuit seeks to have the order declared invalid and to prevent its enforcement.
The Justice Department has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Trump’s executive order accuses Perkins Coie of various alleged actions over the years to undermine democratic elections, as well as the integrity of U.S. courts and law enforcement.
The order specifically references the firm’s representation of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and the involvement of Perkins Coie attorneys in the production of a dossier containing unverified claims about potential ties between Trump and Russia.
The lawsuit refutes any claims of misconduct. It highlights that Trump had previously filed a lawsuit in 2022 against Perkins Coie, Hillary Clinton, and others alleging a conspiracy against him. The case was dismissed by a federal court several months later.
The lawsuit also mentions that the two lawyers who led the firm’s work for the Clinton campaign are no longer employed by Perkins Coie. One of those attorneys, Michael Sussmann, was charged by a Justice Department special counsel in connection with his work related to the dossier. He was later acquitted by a jury.
Trump’s order also accuses the law firm of engaging in racial discrimination through its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
The lawsuit disputes this accusation as well, stating that Perkins Coie is dedicated to diversity and inclusion but does not discriminate against its attorneys or staff based on race or any other factors.
The firm’s attorneys argue that Trump’s order violates several constitutional amendments, including the First, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments.
