By Charles Switzer
7:13pm PST, Mar 7, 2025
Trump Strikes Back
President
Donald Trump officially ordered federal agencies to take action against the high-profile law firm Perkins Coie, a key player in the origins of the now-discredited Steele dossier.
The executive order, signed Thursday, March 6, revokes security clearances for Perkins Coie employees, restricts their access to federal buildings and prohibits government agencies from hiring the firm's staff. The directive also terminates any existing government contracts with the firm.
Trump justified the move by accusing Perkins Coie of engaging in "dishonest and dangerous activity" while also directing a broader review of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in major law firms.
"This is an absolute honor to sign," Trump declared, calling the firm's past involvement in the Steele Dossier a prime example of "weaponization" against a political opponent.
Here are four takeaways from the president's newest retaliatory action…
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Perkins Coie Responds
The law firm quickly pushed back against Trump's order, calling it "patently unlawful" and vowing to challenge it,
The New York Times reported. This move follows a similar executive action last month, in which Trump targeted Covington & Burling, the law firm representing former special counsel
Jack Smith in his investigations into Trump's handling of classified documents and his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.
The battle between Trump and his legal adversaries appears to be escalating, with his administration now actively blocking firms linked to Democratic legal efforts. Perkins Coie, once home to influential Democratic lawyers
Marc Elias and
Michael Sussmann, was instrumental in hiring Fusion GPS, the research firm responsible for compiling the Steele dossier.
The Steele Dossier's Fallout and the Clinton Connection
The dossier was a controversial document that alleged collusion between Trump and Russia during the 2016 presidential election. The report, assembled by former British intelligence officer
Christopher Steele, was later revealed to have been funded by
Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
The dossier played a central role in the FBI's investigation into Trump's campaign, though many of its key claims — including the infamous "golden showers" allegation — were never substantiated. In 2022, the Federal Election Commission fined the Democratic Party for failing to properly disclose its payments to fund the opposition research.
The 'Golden Showers' Allegation
Among the Steele dossier's most salacious claims was the unproven assertion that Trump had hired prostitutes to urinate on a hotel bed in Moscow once used by
Barack and Michelle Obama. The so-called "golden showers" rumor has remained a persistent feature in discussions about the dossier. Trump has frequently referenced it in public remarks, even making light of the claim during a campaign event in Iowa last year. "Actually that one she didn't believe because she said, 'He's a germaphobe, he's not into that,'" Trump recounted, referring to a conversation with his wife,
Melania Trump.
"I thought that would be a big problem, I was going to have a rough night, but that one she was very good on," he added.
Despite a lack of evidence, the allegation has remained a part of Trump's ongoing grievances over the Russia investigation.
The Political and Legal Battle Ahead
Trump's crackdown on Perkins Coie highlights his determination to exact retribution against those who played a role in the Steele dossier and the broader Russia probe.
The executive order is certain to face legal challenges, as federal agencies and legal experts question whether Trump has the authority to unilaterally bar a private law firm from government contracts and employment opportunities.
