FRANK RICCI: DC Bar Must Be Held Accountable For Lawfare Against Jeffrey Clark

The D.C. Bar’s recommendation to disbar Attorney Jeffrey Clark — a Harvard-educated former Justice Department official and currently Acting Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs — is a glaring example of political desperation masquerading as a pursuit of judicial ethics.

America’s justice system is inherently adversarial, built on the clash of opposing arguments to arrive at a legal conclusion. Lawyers are not punished for presenting unpopular legal theories, nor should they be. Every courtroom has winners and losers, but losing does not mean disbarment—especially when appeals and evolving legal standards often shift the final outcome.

Legal cases typically begin with theories, not conclusions. Those theories are stress-tested through discovery, depositions, and cross-examinations. Some will falter. Others will prevail. But none should lead to professional ruin merely because they challenge the status quo.

Even judges routinely issue dissents—opinions that don’t carry the day but later can become the backbone of future rulings. These dissents aren’t condemned; they’re celebrated and taught at law schools. Dissents, when well-reasoned according to the law, and not feelings demonstrate the very best of jurisprudence.

To single out Clark for proposing a legal strategy, one that was never adopted, let alone acted upon, is to criminalize the intellectual engine of law itself. As Mike Davis of Article III Project has taught us, politeness and policy is not enough to combat those who will weaponize the law for political benefit. “This is not the old Republican Party,” Davis said.

Friends and Trump allies will not be left behind.

The Justice Department must fight this and bring the full weight of the federal government down on those who would pervert the process to chill the right to effective counsel and destroy attorney and client privilege. (RELATED: DC Bar Recommends Disbarring Trump White House Official)

Clark’s supposed transgression? Drafting a letter — never sent — urging Georgia officials to review concerns about the 2020 election. For this, he faces the full wrath of a politicized legal institution. It is not justice—it is punishment by process.

This isn’t about misconduct. It’s about silencing dissent. The legal profession should not be policed based on ideology. The moment lawyers are punished for which arguments they make — or which clients they represent — is the moment the rule of law becomes subject to political loyalty tests.

Clark’s concerns weren’t conjured in a vacuum. The Hunter Biden laptop story, once dismissed as disinformation, has since been verified. The Clinton campaign’s efforts to fabricate ties between Trump and Russia are now documented. In that context, Clark’s skepticism wasn’t wild-eyed — it was prudent.

This is lawfare: the strategic use of legal institutions to punish and suppress political opposition. It erodes trust, drains resources, and creates a chilling effect on any lawyer who dares to challenge prevailing narratives.

The D.C. Bar’s relentless pursuit of Jeffrey Clark sets a dangerous precedent. Unlike FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith —who forged evidence and had his license reinstated — Clark faces disbarment for a draft letter and unproven theories.

This double standard weaponizes the ethics process to deter dissent and embolden ideological conformity. The right to counsel, attorney-client privilege, and zealous legal advocacy are under siege.

 If left unchallenged, this abuse will silence principled attorneys and undermine the adversarial system that defines our republic. Accountability isn’t revenge — it’s justice. The D.C. Court of Appeals must end this political crusade before it permanently damages the integrity of our legal system.

Frank Ricci was the lead plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case Ricci v Destefano. He retired as a Battalion Chief in New Haven, Conn. He has testified before Congress and is the author of the book Command Presence.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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