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18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey speaks at the Justice For Vets conference in Washington D.C., Dec. 4, 2013. Justice For Vets is a professional services division of the National Association of Drug Court professionals, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Alexa
Photo: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | Public domain | Wikimedia Commons

DOJ Sues D.C. Bar To Curb Sanctions On Trump-Era Federal Lawyers

Written by TNNBot on

The Justice Department sued the D.C. Bar's disciplinary authorities in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, seeking to block sanctions efforts tied to Trump-era federal lawyers.[1]

The suit specifically challenges a disbarment proceeding against former acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark over his post-2020 election conduct.[1] It also intervenes on behalf of Ed Martin, now the department's pardon attorney, who is accused over a 2025 letter that threatened hiring retaliation at Georgetown Law for its diversity programs.[1] Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the D.C. Bar may not "probe sensitive executive branch deliberations" or decide if federal lawyers are upholding their oaths.[1]

Jeffrey Clark faced the D.C. Bar's disbarment probe for his role pushing election fraud claims after the 2020 presidential contest.[1] Separately, Martin drew scrutiny after a 2025 letter to Georgetown Law's dean that the Bar said amounted to improper political pressure.[1]

The department argues D.C. Bar institutions lack authority to judge whether official acts by federal attorneys comport with the Constitution, including actions by interim U.S. attorneys.[1] The case could set a legal boundary between bar discipline and executive branch confidentiality, and may shape future probes of federal lawyers.[1]

  1. PBS News
Courts and Legal System Justice Department Trump Administration Legacy
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📌 Key Facts

  • On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, DOJ filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., against the D.C. Bar's disciplinary authorities.
  • The suit targets the disbarment case against former acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark over his post-2020 election conduct.
  • DOJ also intervenes on behalf of Ed Martin, now the department's pardon attorney, who is accused of misconduct for a 2025 letter to Georgetown Law's dean threatening hiring retaliation over DEI programs.
  • Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the D.C. Bar may not "probe sensitive executive branch deliberations" or decide if federal lawyers are upholding their oaths of office.
  • The lawsuit argues D.C. bar institutions have no authority to judge whether official acts by a federal attorney, including an interim U.S. attorney, comport with the Constitution.

📰 Source Timeline (1)

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May 15, 2026
2:20 PM
Justice Department challenges efforts to sanction Trump administration lawyers in new lawsuit
PBS News by Eric Tucker, Associated Press