Federal Judge Rules Trump Overstepped Authority in Revoking Security Clearance of Perkins Coie Law Firm
Keywords: Trump executive order news, Beryl Howell ruling, security clearance revocation, Perkins Coie First Amendment, presidential powers limit, free speech retaliation
In a significant legal setback for former President Donald Trump, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that Trump exceeded his constitutional authority when he revoked the security clearance of the law firm Perkins Coie via executive order.
The ruling, issued Friday, described Trump’s action as an unconstitutional abuse of power that violated the First, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments. Howell, an Obama-appointed judge, stated the move represented a “blunt exercise of power” that directly undermines core American legal protections.
“The U.S. Constitution affords critical protections against Executive action like that ordered in EO 1423,” Howell wrote in her 100+ page opinion. “Government officials, including the President, may not subject individuals to retaliatory actions after the fact for having engaged in protected speech.”
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Perkins Coie and the Russia Probe Connection
Perkins Coie is a prominent law firm known for its representation of the Democratic National Committee and its involvement in the controversial Steele dossier during the Trump-Russia investigation. Critics have long pointed to the firm’s role in the “Russian collusion” narrative—a fact that likely contributed to Trump’s targeting of its security clearance.
However, Judge Howell rejected the notion that a president can punish lawyers or law firms for their affiliations or political stances.
Shakespeare and the Constitution
In a particularly pointed critique, Howell referenced Shakespeare’s Henry VI, twisting the infamous quote “Let’s kill all the lawyers” to describe the executive order’s chilling message.
“In a cringe-worthy twist on the theatrical phrase… the executive order takes the approach of ‘Let’s kill the lawyers I don’t like,’” Howell wrote, arguing that the move sent a dangerous warning: “Lawyers must stick to the party line, or else.”
She continued, emphasizing that punishing legal professionals for their clients or policy stances violates the Constitution’s call for “tolerance, not coercion.”
A Blow to Executive Overreach
The decision is being hailed by legal experts and civil liberties advocates as a defense of constitutional limits on executive authority. It underscores the courts’ role in checking presidential power, especially when it’s wielded against political opponents.
Trump’s executive order, Howell said, cannot be allowed to stand as a precedent that government leaders may use the federal apparatus to silence dissent or punish opposition through retaliatory measures.
Conclusion
Judge Howell’s ruling reaffirms the constitutional protections of free speech, due process, and legal representation, even in politically charged environments. It also delivers a strong message about the dangers of weaponizing government power against perceived enemies—no matter who holds the office of the presidency.
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