February 25, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law
· executive pressure campaign
Well supported
Covington & Burling Keeps Representing Jack Smith After Clearances Are Suspended
A presidential memorandum suspended the security clearances of Covington & Burling lawyers who had assisted former Special Counsel Jack Smith, including partner Peter Koski, and placed the firm's federal contracts under review. The firm publicly confirmed that it would continue to represent Smith. Unlike Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey, Covington was never made the subject of a full executive order, and unlike at least nine other firms it made no pro bono commitment to the administration.
The episode is significant as an early test of the pressure campaign that did not escalate. It came roughly a week before the first firm-specific executive order and suggests that refusal did not reliably invite further action, which is relevant context for assessing the firms that chose to settle.
No executive order against the firm and no further enforcement action had been reported as of August 2026.
The episode is significant as an early test of the pressure campaign that did not escalate. It came roughly a week before the first firm-specific executive order and suggests that refusal did not reliably invite further action, which is relevant context for assessing the firms that chose to settle.
No executive order against the firm and no further enforcement action had been reported as of August 2026.
Sources
- White House suspending active security clearances of Covington & Burling lawyers who are working with Jack Smith — CNN, 2025-02-25
- Suspension of Security Clearances and Evaluation of Government Contracts — The White House, 2025-02-25 Official record