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By Matthew Impelli
Life & Trends Reporter
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Former lawyers for Donald Trump received an ominous warning on Wednesday from business and compliance attorney Seth Berenzweig.
"This is going to be an important message sent by the state disciplinary bars who really have the authority to basically execute what is tantamount to a death penalty from the professional world for attorneys," Berenzweig said on CNN about ex-lawyers for the former president, Jeffrey Clark and John Eastman, and their possible disbarment.
A disbarment hearing for Clark began in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
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Newsweek reached out to representatives for Eastman and Clark via email for comment.
The Context
Clark and Eastman are facing disciplinary action for their alleged attempts to help Trump in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
On Tuesday, officials with the Washington D.C. Bar's Board of Professional Responsibility argued that Clark should possibly have his legal license removed for his efforts in allegedly assisting Trump. However, the Associated Press reported that Clark's attorney, Harry MacDougald, argued against some consequences saying that they would have a "chilling effect."
For Eastman, CNN reported that the State Bar of California is expected to make a ruling on possible disbarment this week.
What We Know
Last August, Eastman surrendered himself to authorities in Fulton County, Georgia, and said he was not planning to take a plea deal in the case.
"I am here today to surrender to an indictment that should never have been brought. It represents a crossing of the Rubicon for our country, implicating the fundamental First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances," Eastman said in a statement released by the Burnham & Gorokhov law firm.
Former President Trump has continued to deny any wrongdoing and one of his other co-defendants sought to have Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis disqualified from the case due to her relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade.
In November 2023, Eastman spoke to reporter Julie Kelly on the Happy Hour with Julie and Liz podcast and explained that he was trying "not to completely deplete my wife's retirement fund," by paying for his legal fees.
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While appearing on CNN, Berenzweig said, "I think it's really interesting to note [that] Donald Trump relied very heavily on the lawyers, of course, John Eastman...Mr. Trump relied upon the attorneys to wave a false flag of legitimacy for the attempt to overturn the election."
"Specifically, the Eastman memo, laid out the false electors scheme, which was infamous and that led to his famous mugshot," Berenzweig said.
What's Next
Berenzweig went on to say that he expects Eastman to be disbarred on Wednesday for alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
"Jeffrey Clark and all the others you mentioned are probably facing a similar fate and this shows a message that at least there's some kind of an internal mechanism for enforcement for rules and ethics within the professional bar for attorneys in the United States," Berenzweig said.
Update 3/27/24, 11:19 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 3/27/24, 11:56 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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