The President has issued an executive order which seeks to address perceived risks associated with certain law firms, notably targeting Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, also known as WilmerHale. This order outlines concerns over actions that are considered detrimental to U.S. interests, including compromising public safety, national security, and the integrity of American elections.
According to the order, it is asserted that WilmerHale has engaged in partisan activities that are said to oppose American interests. The firm is accused of backing initiatives that could enable noncitizens to vote and engaging in racial discrimination against its employees. "WilmerHale itself discriminates against its employees based on race and other categories prohibited by civil rights laws, including through the use of race-based 'targets,'" it states.
The order also draws attention to WilmerHale's hiring practices, specifically targeting the firm for employing lawyers such as Robert Mueller and his associates. The President's directive describes the investigation led by Mueller as a misuse of government power. "Mueller's 'investigation' upended the lives of public servants in my Administration who were summoned before 'prosecutors'...," the order claims, highlighting the significant impact of such legal actions.
The executive order instructs relevant government officials to review and potentially suspend security clearances for individuals at WilmerHale. Additionally, the Office of Management and Budget is tasked with identifying government resources currently benefiting the firm, with instructions to cease such provisions. On the matter of government contracts, the order demands scrutiny over WilmerHale's involvement, allowing for potential termination of contracts tied to the firm.
Further directives involve restricting WilmerHale employees’ access to federal buildings and limiting interactions between government employees and the firm’s staff to protect national security.
Lastly, the order specifies that it is not meant to counter any established legal authority or alter existing laws, stating, "Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof."
The order is part of ongoing efforts, as referenced by the President, to end the perceived "weaponization" of government processes.
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