President Donald Trump took aim at the law firm WilmerHale, saying it is one of many law firms that “engage in conduct detrimental to critical American interests,” in a new executive order on Wednesday.
Trump argued in the order that the firm engages in “activities that undermine justice” in its pro bono practice.
FBI Director Robert Mueller testifies during the Senate Select Intelligence Committee hearing in Washington, Jan. 31, 2012.
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WilmerHale has ties to former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who investigated and issued a report on alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign.
The order says that WilmerHale “engages in obvious partisan representations to achieve political ends, supports efforts to discriminate on the basis of race, backs the obstruction of efforts to prevent illegal aliens from committing horrific crimes and trafficking deadly drugs within our borders, and furthers the degradation of the quality of American elections, including by supporting efforts designed to enable noncitizens to vote.” The order also takes issue with the fact that WilmerHale uses race-based “targets” in hiring.
Trump took issue with the fact that WilmerHale has ties to Robert Mueller and some of his top aides, Aaron Zebley and James Quarles.
“Mueller’s investigation epitomizes the weaponization of government, yet WilmerHale claimed he ’embodies the highest value of our firm and profession,'” the executive order said.
Trump ordered his administration to suspend the security clearances of WilmerHale employees and also requires government contractors to disclose any business they do with the law firm.
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart
