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Jeffrey Clark is a 56-year-old American lawyer. He worked at the Department of Justice (DOJ) during the Trump Administration, as an Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division (2018-2021), as well as acting head of the DOJ's Civil Division (2020-2021). Clark is one of 19 people criminally charged in Fulton County, GA based on allegations that he attempted to overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results.
The Fulton indictment indicates Clark’s involvement included writing official documents claiming—without support—- that the Department of Justice had “identified significant concerns that may have impacted the outcome of the election in multiple [s]tates, including the State of Georgia”. Additionally, Clark devised a plan with Trump to oust then-acting Attorney General Rosen and use the DOJ to pressure Georgia lawmakers and change the election results.
Background
Donald Trump nominated Jeffrey Clark as Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Environmental division in 2017. When Jody Hunt, the head of the DOJ’s Civil Division, quit in September 2020, Clark expressed interest in and ultimately assumed that role in an acting capacity. In these positions, Clark did not have a role in conducting or overseeing elections investigations. Clark was told by various superiors at the DOJ that he should not contact the White House about the election.
After the 2020 election, however, Trump and Clark met to discuss sending letters to key officials in states where Trump lost the popular vote. Allegations indicate they planned to falsely claim that the DOJ had discovered concerns that warranted state officials to investigate the results. They also worked together on a plan to replace then-U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen with Clark, so that he would oversee all of the DOJ, although this did not ultimately happen.
Why was Clark indicted?
Jeffrey Clark was charged in the Fulton County indictment with 2 felony counts:
Violation of Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) law, and
Criminal attempt to commit false statements and writings.
Clark is alleged to have engaged in multiple acts in furtherance of the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. He is alleged to have made two separate attempts to send a document falsely claiming the DOJ discovered concerns affecting the Georgia results to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, as well as other Georgia lawmakers.
Like co-defendant Mark Meadows, Clark moved to have his case removed to federal court, rather than stay in Georgia state court where it was originally filed. In September 2023, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones rejected Clark’s motion. Clark has appealed that decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.