Trump moves to suspend security clearances of lawyers at DC law firm

President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered the suspension of any security clearances held by lawyers at a prominent Washington law firm who provided legal services to special counsel Jack Smith the latest move in the Republicans campaign of retribution over the criminal investigations that dogged him before he returned to officeTrumps memo signed at the White House seeks to punish the law firm Covington amp Burling days after it was revealed that the firm provided pro bono legal services to Smith who charged Trump in two criminal cases that were later dismissed after Trump won back the presidency in NovemberCovington amp Burling is an international law firm whose current attorneys include former Attorney General Eric Holder and Lanny Breuer an exJustice Department official who in 2010 hired Smith to lead the agencys Public Integrity Section The firm had no role in Smiths investigation of Trump according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situationThe firm recently agreed to represent Smith when it became apparent that he would become subject of a government investigation it said in a statement Tuesday Covington serves as defense counsel to Jack Smith in his personal individual capacity a spokesperson for the firm said We look forward to defending Mr Smiths interests and appreciate the trust he has placed in us to do soThe move is part of Trumps effort to exact revenge on his perceived political enemies and Smith in particular After signing the directive Trump suggested the pen he used be sent to Smith eliciting laughter in the Oval Office Its not the first time that Trump as president has sought to suspend clearances of Washington figures who have provoked his ireLast month for instance he moved to revoke the clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials who signed onto a letter who said the Hunter Biden laptop saga bore the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaignThe memo directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to suspend any active security clearances held by Peter Koski an attorney representing Smith and all members partners and employees of Covington who assisted Smith during his time as special counsel It says they will be suspended pending a review and determination of their roles and responsibilities if any in the weaponization of the judicial processAsked by a reporter Tuesday about the targeting of the law firm Trump replied Ive been targeted for four years longer than that so dont you tell me about targeting I was the target of corrupt politicians for four years and then four years after that so dont talk to me about targetingA financial disclosure firm filed by Smith and reported on by Politico earlier this month revealed that Smith had disclosed receiving 140000 in pro bono legal services from Covington amp Burling before he left his position in January after more than two years on the jobIt follows the firings of members of Smiths team and appears designed to deter lawyers and major law firms from offering legal services to the investigators who investigated Trump many of whom like Smith have sought their own counsel from attorneysBondi and other Republicans have argued the Justice Department under President Joe Biden had become weaponized against conservatives and Trump in particular In one of her first actions in office Bondi announced the creation of a weaponization working group that will examine Smiths work and the prosecutors and law enforcement who participated in what Bondis memo described as the unprecedented raid on President Trumps homeSmith was appointed in November 2022 by thenAttorney General Merrick Garland to take over inprogress investigations into Trumps hoarding of classified documents at his MaraLago estate in Florida and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential electionBoth investigations resulted in indictments though the classified documents case was dismissed by a judge who concluded that Smiths appointment was illegal and the election interference prosecution was significantly narrowed by a Supreme Court opinion last summer Smith dismissed both shortly after Trumps election win in November citing longstanding Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting presidentThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever