Justice Department Sues Washington D.C. Bar Over Jeffrey Clark Disciplinary Case

D.C. The suit concerns the disciplinary case against former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark. C. tribunal engaged in a pattern of bad-faith prosecutions based on viewpoint and political affiliation. It states that Assistant Disciplinary Counsel Jack Metzler posted dozens of anti-conservative messages on social media during and after the Clark case.

D.C. bar authorities charged Clark with ethical violations over a draft letter he prepared while serving as Acting Assistant Attorney General. The letter proposed that the DOJ identify potential 2020 election issues in Georgia and request a special legislative session.

Clark presented the document to his superiors, including Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen. The letter was marked pre-decisional and was never sent. After the 2020 election, the document was leaked. C. tribunal found that Clark attempted to make intentionally false statements about the Justice Department’s investigation.

It recommended disbarment despite noting no factually comparable prior cases. Clark is appealing the decision.

U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin. C. bar authorities are pursuing Martin over correspondence with Georgetown University Law Center regarding its DEI policies. The department filed a statement of interest in Martin’s case and called for its removal to federal court.

It described the Martin proceeding as retaliatory after Martin questioned the office about the Clark case. The complaint argues that the Supremacy Clause prevents state bar authorities from regulating federal officials through disciplinary proceedings.

It further claims that such actions unlawfully interfere with presidential power and discriminate against federal lawyers.