In a disbarment hearing held on Wednesday, environmental lawyer Jeffrey Clark, who was once considered by Donald Trump to lead the Justice Department, repeatedly asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The hearing revolves around Clark's involvement in attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, and his subsequent criminal charges in Georgia as part of the state racketeering case against Trump and others.

Clark, a former Justice Department civil lawyer with no criminal law experience, had expressed interest in investigating conspiracy theories surrounding the alleged election theft, including claims related to smart thermostats. It was revealed that just hours before the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Trump had contemplated appointing Clark as the acting attorney general. However, the idea was abandoned when Justice Department leadership threatened to resign en masse.

Federal authorities conducted a search of Clark's home in June 2022, leading to criminal charges in the state racketeering case. In August, Clark surrendered to authorities and pleaded not guilty. Additionally, he has been identified as an unindicted co-conspirator (no. 4) in the federal election interference case brought by special counsel Jack Smith against Trump.

During the disciplinary hearing before the Ad Hoc Hearing Committee for the D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility, Clark repeatedly utilized various legal privileges, including the Fifth Amendment, law enforcement privilege, deliberative process, and attorney-client privilege. When questioned about his invocation of attorney-client privilege, Clark stated that he was acting as the attorney for President Trump, asserting his role as the head of the executive branch of the United States government.

Former Acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen also provided testimony during the hearing, recalling his interaction with Trump regarding Clark. Rosen emphasized that Clark's desire to investigate election-related issues was beyond his area of expertise and that Clark was not forthcoming about his intentions leading up to the January 6 attack. The hearing further revealed that Clark had relied on internet sources for his information.

Testifying before the committee, Rosen claimed that he and other lawyers present indicated their intent to resign if Trump appointed Clark as the acting attorney general. The threat of mass resignations ultimately dissuaded Trump from pursuing Clark's appointment.

In defense of Clark, Suzi Voyles, a Republican politician and Trump delegate, testified about her concerns regarding voter fraud in Georgia during the 2020 election. Voyles' claims were investigated and dismissed by state authorities, but she maintained her suspicions. The testimony underscored the continuing discourse surrounding the integrity of the election.

Notably, the disciplinary board for the D.C. Bar Association has previously recommended the revocation of Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani's law license due to his efforts in undermining the integrity of the 2020 presidential election.

The disbarment hearing remains ongoing, with the Ad Hoc Hearing Committee for the D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility weighing the evidence presented to determine whether Clark should lose his bar license for his involvement in attempting to overturn the election results.