The Case for President Trump’s Executive Order Against Partisan Lawfare
President Trump’s recent executive order targeting Perkins Coie and other politically motivated law firms is not just an act of self-defense—it is a necessary step toward restoring integrity to our legal and political systems. The president’s critics are quick to frame this as an attack on the legal profession, but that characterization is both misleading and disingenuous. What Trump has done is draw a long-overdue distinction between legitimate legal advocacy and lawfare—the abuse of the legal system for political ends.
The Weaponization of the Legal System
For years, Perkins Coie and similar firms have wielded their influence not to represent clients in good faith but to manipulate elections, law enforcement investigations, and even national security apparatuses. Their actions go far beyond the ethical bounds of legal advocacy. Rather than adhering to their duties as officers of the court, these firms engaged in a coordinated effort to use their privileged access to sensitive information and their deep connections within government agencies to advance a political agenda.
A prime example is the now-infamous Steele dossier, which was commissioned by Perkins Coie on behalf of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The document, filled with unverified and debunked claims, was strategically fed to the FBI and the media, launching a years-long investigation into Trump’s campaign under false pretenses. This was not a case of lawyers defending a client; it was an instance of legal operatives orchestrating one of the most significant disinformation campaigns in modern American history.
Security Clearances as a Political Tool
Perhaps most disturbing is the way these firms leveraged security clearances and privileged access to government agencies to manipulate law enforcement actions. Lawyers at Perkins Coie were not merely representing clients in court—they were functioning as political operatives, using their insider status to influence federal investigations. This is an egregious abuse of the trust placed in attorneys who are granted such clearances. It is entirely appropriate for President Trump to strip these individuals of access to sensitive government information and buildings. Any lawyer who exploits their clearance for political gain forfeits the right to hold it.
Election Interference at an Unprecedented Level
For all the left’s hand-wringing about “election interference,” they have yet to acknowledge that the real and unprecedented attack on democracy came not from foreign actors, but from within our own legal establishment. The actions of these firms represent a coordinated attempt to interfere with the 2016 election, delegitimize a sitting president, and influence subsequent elections by keeping false narratives alive. Their work has had lasting consequences, sowing division, eroding public trust, and weaponizing the legal system against political opponents.
Defending the Integrity of the Legal Profession
The American Bar Association and other legal groups have predictably decried Trump’s order, arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent. But these same organizations have been largely silent as attorneys have been targeted for representing Trump or other conservative clients. The reality is that the legal profession must be held to a higher ethical standard. The executive order is not a broadside against lawyers but a necessary correction to a system that has tolerated—if not encouraged—the use of law firms as political weapons.
Legitimate legal advocacy is a cornerstone of our democracy, but it must be distinguished from lawfare. President Trump’s executive order is a step toward restoring that distinction. If the legal profession refuses to police itself, the executive branch has a duty to act in the interest of justice. Americans deserve a legal system that operates fairly and impartially—not one that serves as a tool for political hit jobs.
By holding Perkins Coie and others accountable, Trump is sending a clear message: those who abuse the law for political gain will no longer enjoy the privilege of doing so with the government’s tacit approval. That is not an attack on justice—it is a defense of it.
