Trump Briefly Appointed Jeff Clark Acting Attorney General Before Jan. 6, Attorney Confirms

President Trump reversed the decision later in the day after deciding against it.

Jeff Clark, a senior fellow at the Center for Renewing America, in a still from video released by NTD, on Sept. 2, 2022. NTD

WASHINGTON—Three days into former Department of Justice (DOJ) official Jeff Clark’s disciplinary hearing, his lead counsel confirmed a detail about the events leading up to Jan. 6, 2021.

It is well known that then-President Donald Trump considered elevating Mr. Clark to the post of acting attorney general when other department officials refused to aid his efforts to contest the 2020 election in Georgia. But it wasn’t clear if President Trump officially made the appointment. According to Mr. Clark’s lawyer, Harry MacDougald, the president had made the appointment but it only lasted a few hours.