Washington, D.C. – A top legal board has recommended that former U.S. Department of Justice lawyer Jeffrey Clark should lose his license to practice law for his role in trying to help Donald Trump overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election results.
Clark, who worked at the Department of Justice (DOJ), tried to send a false letter to election officials claiming there were serious issues in the 2020 vote, especially in states like Georgia. The letter was never sent, but the attempt alone is being called a serious breach of ethics.
What the Legal Board Decided
On Thursday, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility reviewed earlier findings against Clark. The board agreed with an earlier ruling made in April 2024 and supported the call for disbarment, which means permanently removing Clark’s law license.
According to a 111-page report, the board said that Clark “attempted to engage in flagrant dishonesty” and should be disbarred to protect the integrity of the legal profession and to “send a message” to other lawyers.
What Was the Letter About?
The main issue is a draft letter Clark created that falsely claimed the DOJ had found major concerns in the election. The letter was meant to pressure lawmakers in states like Georgia to send false electors to Congress to help Trump stay in power.
The disciplinary board found that this letter violated legal rules because:
It contained false claims.
It would have damaged the justice system.
It was written even though Clark was told the information was false.
Testimonies Against Clark
Former DOJ officials, including Jeffrey Rosen and Richard Donoghue, testified that Clark:
Pushed false claims even after being told they were not true.
Threatened to replace officials who didn’t support Trump.
Tried to misuse the DOJ for political purposes.
The board said even though Clark may have had personal concerns about the election, he still tried to make others believe something the DOJ had not found to be true.
What Punishment Is Being Recommended?
The original recommendation was a two-year suspension, but now the board suggests full disbarment. They said that Clark’s actions were so serious that only permanent removal would protect the public and maintain trust in the legal system.
However, two board members disagreed. They suggested a three-year suspension, but also said Clark should have to prove he’s fit to practice law again.
Clark had argued for a much lighter punishment — just a private warning — but the board said that was not acceptable for such serious misconduct.
Jeffrey Clark’s actions during the 2020 election period have led to one of the strongest legal punishments a lawyer can face: disbarment. By trying to get the Department of Justice to send false information about the election, he crossed ethical lines that legal authorities say can’t be ignored.
The final decision is still pending, but the board’s strong recommendation sends a clear warning to other lawyers: honesty and integrity are not optional — especially when dealing with matters of national importance.
