President Trump has revoked security clearances for a law firm that assisted the beleaguered Special Counsel Jack Smith, who spent $50 million prosecuting Trump under Biden. According to Trump, the action was in line with his Executive Order 14147 of January 20, 2025, titled “Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government.”
The revocation follows a similar action targeting 51 intel chiefs who signed a letter downplaying Hunter Biden’s laptop story as possibly a Russian disinformation campaign. Trump also withdrew the security clearances for the former head of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, who briefed China during the January 6 Capitol protests.
According to the White House, the order affects a D.C. legal services firm Covington & Burling LLP, including “Peter Koski and all members, partners, and employees.”
Subsequently, Trump directed all relevant heads of executive departments and agencies to suspend the security clearances for all individuals involved with the firm, pending the determination of their role, if any, in the weaponization of the Department of Justice. All heads of federal agencies should terminate all engagements with Covington & Burling LLP to the maximum extent permitted by the law and review existing contracts the agencies have with the law firm.
Politico reported that two members of the firm reportedly offered pro bono legal services to Smith worth about $140,000 as recently as last month before he resigned. According to its statement, the Covington & Burling LLP agreed to represent Smith in his personal capacity “when it became apparent that he would become subject of a government investigation.”
Covington has deep ties with Washington D.C. and the two attorneys representing Smith, Covinton’s Vice Chair and former head of the Justice Department’s criminal division Lanny Breuer and Peter Koski, have more than a decade-long working relationship. In 2010 under Obama, Breuer hired Smith to lead the public integrity section, in which Koski has also worked as a prosecutor.
Highlighting the high level of trust existing between the law firm and the former special counsel, Covington promised to “continue defending Smith’s interests,” seemingly justifying Trump’s concerns.
“We look forward to defending Mr. Smith’s interests and appreciate the trust he has placed in us to do so,” the firm’s spokesperson stated.
When signing the order at the Oval Office, Trump jokingly referred to it as “the Deranged Jack Smith signing” or bill.
Meanwhile, the suspension of Covington’s security clearances follows a recent announcement of the “weaponization working group” by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Smith and his team. Although Smith enjoys a preemptive pardon as part of the House Jan. 6 Committee, other prosecutors were not extended the same privilege.
When asked about targeting the law firm, Trump dismissed the claim stating that he has endured being targeted for a long time.
“I’ve been targeted for four years, longer than that, so don’t you tell me about targeting. I was the target of corrupt politicians for four years and then four years after that, so don’t talk to me about targeting.”
Trump’s White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf also promised to continue holding people and their enablers accountable for weaponizing the Justice Department. “And we’re going to continue holding the people who were responsible for the weaponization of government, who supported it, accountable for what they did,” he warned.
