Special Poll
President Trump signed a memorandum on Tuesday suspending the security clearances of employees at a law firm that assisted former special counsel Jack Smith during investigations that led to criminal charges against him. The decision is part of Trump’s ongoing efforts to hold those involved in the investigations accountable now that he has returned to office.
White House staff secretary Will Scharf announced the move during an Oval Office meeting, stating that the memo specifically targets Washington, D.C.-based law firm Covington & Burling, which had provided pro bono legal assistance to Smith’s investigative team. “As a result of those actions, we’re now going to be suspending and putting under review security clearances for employees at that firm and holding people responsible,” Scharf said.
Trump, known for his sharp criticism of Smith, joked that the order would be called the “Deranged Jack Smith signing,” referencing a phrase he has repeatedly used to attack the former special counsel.
Covington & Burling has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Since returning to the Oval Office, Trump has made Smith and those involved in his investigations a primary target, accusing them of weaponizing the government against him. In January, the Justice Department dismissed multiple prosecutors who had worked on Trump’s criminal cases, arguing that their involvement created a conflict of trust.
At least a dozen prosecutors were affected by the decision, many of whom had been working on Trump’s election interference case and his classified records case involving documents stored at Mar-a-Lago. Both cases were initiated by Smith but never reached trial before Trump won re-election last November.
With this latest action, Trump continues to reshape the legal and political landscape, focusing on those who pursued legal cases against him during his time out of office.