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FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump plans to issue a memo on Tuesday that will halt security clearances for employees at a prominent Washington, D.C. law firm involved in investigations led by former special counsel Jack Smith, according to information obtained by Fox News.
The memo, which was initially reported by Fox News, details the administration’s comprehensive strategy to suspend security clearances for all members of the law firm who participated in Smith’s dual special counsel inquiries regarding Trump, as confirmed by the White House.
This action marks another chapter in Trump’s ongoing efforts to diminish the influence of his political adversaries and attorneys associated with legal challenges against him.
The memo instructs the federal government to assess and, if possible, terminate its engagement with Covington & Burling, the law firm in question, “to the maximum extent permitted by law.” Additionally, it emphasizes the necessity for a thorough examination of funding priorities to align them with the interests of American citizens and the objectives of the current administration, as outlined in various executive directives.
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Special Counsel Jack Smith addressed the public on August 1, 2023, concerning a recently unsealed indictment that included four felony counts against former President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Among those facing scrutiny is Peter Koski, formerly the deputy chief of the public integrity section at the Justice Department. Also likely to be affected is Lanny Breuer, vice chair of Covington, who previously led the Justice Department’s criminal division during the Obama administration. Breuer was instrumental in recruiting Smith in 2010 to lead the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section.
Recent reports have revealed that Smith and Breuer had been providing pro bono legal support to Smith ahead of his resignation from the Justice Department last month, as first noted by Politico.
The White House disclosed on Tuesday that the law firm had provided Smith with approximately $140,000 in legal services free of charge.
In its move to revoke the security clearances of senior Justice Department officials, the administration articulated that Trump aims to convey a strong message that the federal government will no longer permit abuse of power by politically motivated individuals leveraging their roles for personal gain.
“The Federal Government will review and terminate engagement of Covington & Burling LLP by the United States to the maximum extent permitted by law,” the memo is expected to state according to a White House source.
Smith was appointed in 2022 by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate alleged attempts by Trump and his associates to overturn the 2020 election results, as well as the retention of purportedly classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence following his presidential term.
He previously issued indictments against Trump in D.C. for actions related to the alleged efforts to challenge the 2020 election results and brought federal charges in Florida concerning Trump’s management of classified documents post-presidency.
Both cases were later dismissed in accordance with long-standing Justice Department policy that discourages investigations into a sitting president for federal criminal offenses.
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The memo asserts that pursuing such investigations could infringe upon the doctrine of separation of powers, referencing a Supreme Court decision from July that broadened the legal immunity parameters for current presidents.
Covington & Burling LLP has yet to respond to inquiries from Fox News regarding this matter.
This report is developing and will be updated as new information emerges.
Source
www.foxnews.com