Trending Now - DOJ Files Lawsuit Against DC Bar for Partisan Disbarment Actions

WHO:

CNN - Jeffrey Clark, a longtime ally of Trump and former assistant attorney general.

CNN - The Justice Department (DOJ).

CNN - DC’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Board on Professional Responsibility, and the DC Court of Appeals.

CNN - Stanley Woodward, the No. 3 lawyer at the Justice Department.

CNN - Hamilton Fox, among those being sued as DC Disciplinary Counsel.

WHAT:

AP News - The Justice Department's lawsuit claims that the disciplinary actions against Clark are "unlawful" and tainted by politicization, stating, “Defendants are punishing Mr. Clark because he tried to persuade his superiors within the Department of Justice that they should issue a draft letter that he felt reflected the actual law and facts about the 2020 election.”

CNN - The lawsuit seeks to end the disciplinary proceedings against Clark, which the D.C. Bar has recommended for disbarment, and argues that such actions will set a chilling precedent for Executive Branch attorneys.

CNN - The DC Board on Professional Responsibility stated that Clark “should be disbarred as a consequence,” adding that it would send a message that his behavior would not be tolerated.

AP News - The Justice Department's lawsuit claims that the disciplinary actions against Clark are "unlawful" and tainted by politicization.

AP News - The lawsuit seeks to bring an end to the disciplinary proceedings against Clark, which the D.C. Bar has recommended for disbarment.

AP News - The lawsuit also supports Ed Martin, the Justice Department’s pardon attorney, who faced accusations of professional misconduct for a threatening letter sent to Georgetown Law School's dean.

Alternet - The DOJ's lawsuit against the DC Bar claims that disciplinary actions against Clark are an attempt to target Executive Branch officials based on political disagreements.

CNN - The lawsuit states that Clark was punished for attempting to persuade DOJ leadership regarding a draft letter about the 2020 election, asserting that “Defendants are punishing Mr. Clark because he tried to persuade his superiors within the Department of Justice that they should issue a draft letter that he felt reflected the actual law and facts about the 2020 election.”

CNN - Clark stated in a social media post that the lawsuit “is an important step to vindicate the separation of powers.”

CNN - The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into what the DOJ has described as irregularities in how Georgia’s Fulton County carried out the 2020 election, including a search of the Fulton County elections office in January where election materials were seized.

Alternet - The DOJ is asking the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to allow it to take security clearances away from law firms that accept cases with which they disagree.

Alternet - The DOJ's attorney claimed that losses across the board were due to district court judges blocking orders they disliked, which nullified the president's security clearance determinations.

CNN - The Justice Department has subpoenaed Fulton County for 2020 election workers’ personal information.

CNN - The DC Board on Professional Responsibility stated that Clark “urged Justice Department leadership to issue a letter he had drafted that cast doubt on the election results” despite being told by department leadership his theory was incorrect.

CNN - Clark's letter, which he never sent, urged the Georgia state legislature to investigate election “irregularities” and potentially appoint electors against the popular vote results.

CNN - The DOJ filed a lawsuit against DC’s attorney disciplinary authorities for recommending the disbarment of Jeffrey Clark.

CNN - The DC Board on Professional Responsibility recommended disbarment for Clark in July 2025.

CNN - The lawsuit argues that Clark should not be disciplined for “internal Executive Branch deliberations.”

CNN - Clark is currently a vice president at Oversight Project and remains an attorney in good standing in the DC bar.

WHERE:

CNN - Washington, DC.

CNN - Fulton County, Georgia, home of Atlanta.

WHEN:

CNN - The DC Board on Professional Responsibility's recommendation to disbar Clark was made in July 2025.

WHY:

CNN - The DOJ claims that disciplinary actions against Clark would set a chilling precedent for Executive Branch attorneys.

CNN - The lawsuit states that Clark was punished for attempting to persuade DOJ leadership regarding a draft letter about the 2020 election.

HOW:

AP News - Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward stated, “The D.C. Bar will no longer be permitted to probe sensitive executive branch deliberations and target executive branch officials with whom they happen to politically disagree.”

CNN - Stanley Woodward, the No. 3 lawyer at the Justice Department, stated, “The D.C. Bar will no longer be permitted to probe sensitive Executive Branch deliberations and target Executive Branch officials with whom they happen to politically disagree.”

Alternet - The DOJ attorney stated that the president has the right to penalize law firms that criticize him, even if it could lead to future Democratic presidents targeting Republican law firms.

CNN - The DOJ's lawsuit claims that disciplinary actions against Clark will set a chilling precedent, stating, “Weaponizing state bar discipline against Executive Branch attorneys in this way chills them from giving candid legal advice to others in the Executive Branch, including the President and Attorney General.”

CNN - The DOJ's lawsuit argues that state bar authorities should not control the Executive Branch.

CNN - The lawsuit claims that the disciplinary actions are an attempt to target Executive Branch officials based on political disagreements.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 17:25 UTC)

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit claiming that the disciplinary actions against Clark are unlawful and politically motivated, arguing that he is being punished for advocating a draft letter that accurately reflected the law regarding the 2020 election. The lawsuit aims to halt the disciplinary proceedings recommended by the D.C. Bar, which has called for Clark's disbarment, warning that such actions could create a chilling effect for attorneys in the Executive Branch. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward emphasized that the D.C. Bar should not be allowed to investigate sensitive executive branch discussions or target officials based on political disagreements.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 06:12 UTC)

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit claiming that the disciplinary actions against Clark are "unlawful" and influenced by political bias, seeking to halt the proceedings recommended for his disbarment by the D.C. Bar. The lawsuit also backs Ed Martin, the Justice Department’s pardon attorney, who has faced allegations of professional misconduct related to a threatening letter sent to the dean of Georgetown Law School. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward emphasized that the D.C. Bar will no longer be allowed to investigate sensitive executive branch discussions or target officials based on political disagreements.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 04:20 UTC)

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the DC Bar, claiming that disciplinary actions against Clark are politically motivated attacks on Executive Branch officials. The lawsuit alleges that Clark faced punishment for his efforts to persuade DOJ leadership regarding a draft letter about the 2020 election, with Clark asserting that this legal action is crucial for upholding the separation of powers. Additionally, the FBI has launched a criminal investigation into alleged irregularities in the handling of the 2020 election by Georgia's Fulton County, which included a search of the elections office where materials were seized.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 23:18 UTC)

The Department of Justice is asking the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to allow it to revoke security clearances from law firms that take on cases they oppose. An attorney for the DOJ argued that recent losses were a result of district court judges blocking orders they disagreed with, undermining the president's authority over security clearance decisions. The attorney also asserted that the president has the right to penalize law firms that criticize him, despite potential repercussions for future administrations.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 21:29 UTC)

The Justice Department has subpoenaed Fulton County for the personal information of 2020 election workers, as part of an ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, the DC Board on Professional Responsibility revealed that Clark pushed for a letter he drafted to cast doubt on the election results, despite being informed by department leadership that his theory was incorrect. The DOJ argues that disciplinary actions against Clark could set a chilling precedent, warning that it may discourage Executive Branch attorneys from providing candid legal advice.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 19:35 UTC)

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Washington, D.C.'s attorney disciplinary authorities, challenging their recommendation to disbar Jeffrey Clark, a longtime ally of Trump and current vice president at Oversight Project. The lawsuit argues that disciplinary actions against Clark would set a chilling precedent for Executive Branch attorneys, as he was allegedly punished for his involvement in discussions about a draft letter regarding the 2020 election. The DOJ contends that state bar authorities should not have control over the Executive Branch and claims that the actions against Clark are politically motivated.