A Washington disciplinary panel has recommended that lawyer Jeffrey Clark be stripped of his law license. Clark played an instrumental role in President Trump’s efforts to overturn his election loss and clashed with Justice Department superiors who declined to support his false allegations of fraud.
Boyden Gray PLLC filed an amicus brief in support of Mr. Comey. They assert that disciplining DOJ officials for deliberations within would politicize legal discipline.
Legal Matters
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau hired Clark as its senior legal adviser under chief of staff and general counsel Mark Paoletta. America First Legal has filed an amicus brief in support of his challenge against an attempt by DC Bar to sanction him for giving President Trump legal advice candidly.
The Bar’s accusations that Clark engaged in “attempted dishonesty” by encouraging his superiors to pursue farfetched fraud theories is laughable. Rosen and Donoghue both testified during disciplinary proceedings that Clark’s claims were without basis in fact or evidence, yet he insisted on pushing ahead even after they asked him to back off. They warned that pressing these claims would result in mass resignations of top Justice Department and White House officials, as witnessed by Clark being removed by President Clinton from his position. It is evident that this disciplinary proceeding by the Bar is nothing more than political lawfare; an attempt at punishing Clark for offering honest advice.
Financial Issues
Jeffrey Clark, who supported President Trump’s unsuccessful attempts to overturn his election loss by pushing swing states to investigate allegations of voter fraud despite assurances from his bosses, should be disbarred, according to a Washington disciplinary panel’s ruling. Clark now oversees a federal regulatory office.
Clark has now appealed the decision of the DC Court of Appeals, who must approve it before Clark can lose her license to practice law in DC. Clark’s lawyers are challenging this move on the basis that professional licensing bodies shouldn’t interfere with executive branch’s confidential discussions.
Pat Philbin, former White House Counsel, who is also facing disbarment due to his attempts at convincing Justice Department leaders to support President Trump’s claims of voter fraud, testified during his deposition that he and others warned Clark that his actions could spark serious social unrest should they succeed in passing.
Personal Issues
President Trump once considered making Clark acting attorney general after losing to Joe Biden in 2020 election. The plan was abandoned because senior Justice Department leaders informed Trump they would resign masse if that idea went forward and also because its radical nature might spark civil unrest across the nation.
Clark was disgruntled by his superiors, leading him to pursue outlandish claims of fraud despite knowing evidence was lacking. At disciplinary proceedings last year, former Justice Department officials testified that Clark went rogue by questioning voters even after being warned it violated ethical boundaries set by them.
A disciplinary panel has now recommended that Clark be stripped of his law license for aiding President Donald Trump in his campaign to overturn his election loss. Their recommendation will now go before the D.C. Court of Appeals which will then make their ruling regarding whether immediate punishment should be meted out to him. Clark and his legal representation maintain that disciplining federal attorneys over private deliberations at DOJ and White House is unprecedented and violates separation of powers laws.
Family Issues
Families may face many issues that cause conflict, from major life transitions like moving to a new city to health problems. While these problems are difficult to address, with appropriate leadership and support they can be overcome successfully. Recognizing what the root cause is of the conflict and finding ways to deal with it should be the aim.
Two members of the board defied majority consensus to suggest only a three-year suspension, finding Clark’s dishonesty did not reach disbarment levels. His attorney has challenged this recommendation on grounds that discussing confidential deliberations between ENRD and White House did not breach bar rules.
Boyden Gray contends that any attempt by the bar to discipline federal lawyers for discussing confidential material within their law firms violates separation of powers principles, and could potentially have an inhibitive effect on government lawyers carrying out their responsibilities.
