According to a report from Law and Crime on January 17, 2024, former President Donald Trump is confronting multiple legal challenges across various states and courtrooms. Undeterred in his quest to overturn the 2020 election results, Trump is now seeking to prevent Jeffrey Clark, a former Justice Department lawyer, from disclosing his involvement in a scheme aimed at pressuring state officials to send pro-Trump electors to Congress.
Clark, previously considered as a replacement for then-Attorney General William Barr and a staunch Trump ally, is accused of drafting a letter containing false statements about the election. Although the letter, which encouraged Georgia’s governor and legislature to appoint Trump electors despite President Joe Biden winning the state, was never sent, the D.C. Bar Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed an ethics complaint against Clark in August 2021. The complaint alleges violations of professional obligations by making false statements and attempting to undermine the democratic process, with potential sanctions, including disbarment.
In an effort to prevent Clark’s cooperation with disciplinary proceedings, Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, issued a letter dated January 12, 2024. Blanche instructed Clark to maintain Trump’s executive privilege and other related privileges regarding their communications during the administration’s final days. Blanche warned Clark that Trump retains the right to intervene and sue if privileged information is disclosed.
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This move echoes a previous letter from another Trump lawyer, Douglas Collins, sent in August 2021 when Clark was asked to testify before Congress. Collins argued that Trump’s privileges were not waived by President Biden or the Justice Department, emphasizing that complying with congressional requests would undermine the concept of executive privilege and expose former presidents to political retaliation.
Blanche, reiterating Collins’ arguments, emphasized that Trump’s privileges remain intact for the disciplinary case. He urged Clark to stay in touch, informing him of case developments, and asserted Trump’s right to intervene in any litigation involving his privileges.
This letter is part of Trump’s broader strategy to shield himself and allies from accountability for actions during and after the 2020 election. Trump has persistently claimed election fraud, filing numerous lawsuits and pressuring officials. Facing criminal investigations in New York, Georgia, and Washington, D.C., along with civil lawsuits, Trump maintains his denial of wrongdoing, characterizing the legal actions against him as a “witch hunt.”
