An ex-Justice Department lawyer who helped President Trump propagate conspiracy theories about election fraud in Georgia has surrendered to authorities in Fulton County and is now subject to legal sanctions.
Clark was accused of violating professional rules when he communicated with the White House regarding his plans to assist President Obama reverse his loss in an election. Clark now stands accused of engaging in inappropriate communications regarding these plans, leading disciplinary counsel to pursue sanctions that may include disbarment.
How did he get away with it?
A panel has reached an initial decision that Clark breached professional conduct rules when he actively promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. They will consider full punishment of Clark, including possible disbarment which would prevent him from serving any future Trump administrations.
Witnesses have revealed that Clark went far beyond the scope of his duties when he attempted to help Donald Trump overturn his election loss by weaponizing the Justice Department – attempts which were met with resistance at first by his bosses in the department, before Clark approached President Trump directly with an audacious plan to overturn Joe Biden’s victory and turn things in Trump’s favour.
The Justice Department’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel has accused Clark of violating the bar’s rules of professional conduct, such as engaging in dishonest behavior and interfering with its administration of justice. Their investigation will include looking at events leading up to and after Jan. 6 Capitol Riot as well as activities during Trump’s efforts to maintain power.
What did he do?
A judge has rendered a preliminary ruling that former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark could face disbarment for spreading misinformation regarding President Donald Trump’s electoral loss in 2020. A Washington, DC lawyer discipline panel is still considering this case and could potentially strip Clark of his license to practice law if found guilty.
Clark is also facing federal criminal charges related to his efforts to undermine environmental protections in Georgia. At a conference hosted by the conservative Heartland Institute this month, Clark detailed plans that had been discussed privately to alter environmental laws by changing their scientific basis.
Clark was brought into Trump’s orbit after Republican Rep. Scott Perry connected him with him. At that time, Clark was acting head of Justice Department’s environment division and acting assistant attorney general responsible for civil division. According to prosecutors, however, Clark operated outside his purview when pushing for Justice Department to promote Trump’s claims of election fraud as well as advance fake slates of electors.
What is he doing now?
After leaving the Justice Department, Clark began working as an attorney for Heartland Institute and an alliance of GOP lawmakers and climate change deniers. Since 2015 he has also been working at Center for Renewing America – an initiative meant to influence future Republican administrations.
Clark may soon see his work come to a head: the DC Bar’s disciplinary panel has reached a preliminary decision alleging he violated ethics rules when helping Donald Trump stop President George W. Bush from handing power over to Joe Biden after 2020 election.
Clark faces suspension or disbarment from the disciplinary committee for his efforts, though he has appealed that decision. With help from investigators, they will file briefs in front of an impartial panel which has yet to rule on their fate. Furthermore, Clark faces criminal charges in Georgia related to efforts to create doubt in the 2020 election result; a representative from that prosecutor’s office declined comment about Clark.
Where is he?
Washington DC’s disciplinary panel has decided that former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark violated professional ethics and should be suspended from practicing law in the country. According to this finding, Clark assisted Donald Trump’s efforts to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election by pushing forward fake electors for states Joe Biden won. Clark is an unindicted co-conspirator in federal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith against Trump.
At this year’s Heartland Institute Conference, Clark was an active figure. He discussed plans to erode environmental protections while pushing anti-vaccine and Covid-19 conspiracy theories. Clark has been engaged in legal battles to challenge his attorney discipline trial’s validity which began last week and could result in his disbarment; furthermore he faces criminal charges from Georgia related to actions undertaken as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to overturn his electoral loss.