Legal shockwave: Trump takes executive action against WilmerHale over ties with political enemies

President Donald Trump signed an executive order against WilmerHale on Thursday, the latest move in the president's expanding campaign against law firms that are associated with his political opponents or probes of his conduct.

Trump Targets WilmerHale

Trump is halting security clearances for the employees of WilmerHale, limiting its entry to federal buildings and terminating government contracts that include the law firm. Trump used the same orders against Jenner and Block, Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling. He revoked an order on Paul Weiss after the firm offered to commit $40 million in pro bono legal work over Trump's term to advancing his administration's objectives.

Trump Goes on the Offensive

WilmerHale came under scrutiny due to its hiring of former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who oversaw a special counsel investigation into Trump and Russian meddling in the 2016 elections. Mueller was a partner at WilmerHale prior to that investigation, and he returned to the firm after it ended. As a White House fact sheet outlining the executive order states, WilmerHale "rewarded" Mueller and two colleagues "by welcoming them to the firm after they exercised the power of the Federal government to head a partisan 'investigation' against the President and others.