The D.C. Bar’s disciplinary board delivered a scathing rebuke of Jeffrey Clark, recommending Thursday that the former Justice Department official and current Trump administration “regulatory czar” be disbarred for his role in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Clark, who now leads the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, a powerful hub for policy oversight within the Trump White House, is facing automatic suspension from practicing law unless he convinces the D.C. Court of Appeals to intervene within 30 days.
The board’s conclusion? Clark weaponized lies to try to keep Trump in power.
“Lawyers cannot advocate for any outcome based on false statements, and they certainly cannot urge others to do so,” the ruling reads. “Clark persistently and energetically sought to do just that on an important national issue.”
The ruling centers on Clark’s attempts to pressure DOJ leadership in the final weeks of 2020 to send a false letter to swing states falsely claiming the department had uncovered evidence of significant voter fraud—despite clear findings from DOJ and election officials that no such evidence existed.
When his superiors refused to go along, Clark took the scheme directly to Trump, who seriously considered installing him as acting attorney general. That effort failed only after senior DOJ and White House officials threatened to resign en masse if Trump went through with it.
Clark isn’t alone in facing professional fallout for the election subversion plot. Rudy Giuliani has already been disbarred. John Eastman is suspended. Jenna Ellis accepted a three-year suspension. Kenneth Chesebro, the architect of the fake electors strategy, lost his license in New York. And others still await disciplinary rulings.
But Clark’s case stands out for one disturbing reason: he still holds a senior role in Trump’s government.
His position gives him sweeping power to review regulations, guide agency policy, and influence major federal decisions. It remains unclear whether losing his law license would disqualify him from continuing in that role.
Clark, who is also under indictment in Georgia over his 2020 efforts, lashed out after the decision, posting on X:
“The fight continues.”
He has maintained throughout that he merely advocated deeper investigations into alleged “irregularities.” But testimony from top Trump DOJ officials undercut that defense. Acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen, Deputy Rich Donoghue, and former White House Counsel Pat Philbin all told the disciplinary panel that Clark’s claims were baseless—and his actions dangerous.
Philbin said he warned Clark that elevating his theories would provoke “devastating social unrest.” Donoghue testified that Clark’s push to send the false letter “exceeded the constitutional authority” of the Justice Department.
Two board members dissented, recommending a three-year suspension instead of full disbarment. But the majority was clear: Clark’s conduct wasn’t just unethical. It was an assault on democracy.
Their conclusion:
“He should be disbarred… to send a message to the rest of the Bar and the public that this behavior will not be tolerated.”
And yet, six months into Trump’s second term, the man who tried to overturn the last one still writes the rules.
Ask ChatGPT