{"id":2604223,"date":"2026-05-18T19:58:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T23:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-bar-lawyer-leaves-disciplinary-case-after-online-posts-resurface\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T20:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T00:00:12","slug":"dc-bar-lawyer-leaves-disciplinary-case-after-online-posts-resurface","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dc-bar-lawyer-leaves-disciplinary-case-after-online-posts-resurface\/","title":{"rendered":"DC Bar lawyer leaves disciplinary case after online posts resurface"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdc-bar-lawyer-leaves-disciplinary-case-after-online-posts-resurface%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2604223&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A senior disciplinary lawyer for the D.C. Bar, Jack Metzler, withdrew from an ethics examination into U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin after scrutiny resurfaced regarding Metzler\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/media-shocked-gina-carano-fought-back-as-her-movie-deal-with-daily-wire-goes-viral\/\" title=\"Media Shocked Gina Carano Fought Back As Her Movie Deal With Daily Wire Goes Viral\">inflammatory social media posts<\/a>. According to a court filing, Metzler stepped away amid concerns that his now-deleted comments on platforms like X and Bluesky-mocking Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, criticizing Justice Clarence Thomas, and targeting figures such as Donald Trump-could undermine the perceived impartiality of the D.C. Bar disciplinary process.<\/p>\n<p>The posts where highlighted in a heritage Foundation opinion piece by Zack Smith, who argued the conduct compromised the appearance of neutrality required of bar prosecutors. Metzler\u2019s withdrawal also came after the Department of Justice sued the D.C. Bar over the disciplinary proceedings, alleging the Bar was \u201cweaponizing\u201d attorney discipline against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pinkerton-the-destructive-left-wing-logic-behind-bidens-embrace-of-450k-reparations-for-border-crossers\/\" title=\"Pinkerton: The Destructive Left-Wing Logic Behind Biden\u2019s Embrace of 0K Reparations for Border Crossers\">executive branch lawyers<\/a> aligned with Trump. With Metzler stepping out, another disciplinary counsel, hamilton Fox III, is set to take over the Martin matter.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>A senior <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington, D.C.<\/a>, Bar disciplinary official withdrew from an ethics investigation against U.S. Pardon Attorney <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ed-martin\/\">Ed Martin<\/a> after a series of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >inflammatory social media posts targeting conservatives<\/a>, Supreme Court justices, and President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> resurfaced online.<\/p>\n<p>Jack Metzler, a senior assistant disciplinary lawyer with the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel, stepped away from the Martin investigation over the weekend, according to a court filing. The decision to withdraw came amid mounting scrutiny over his alleged posts on X and Bluesky, some of which have been deleted, that raise questions about the impartiality of the D.C. Bar\u2019s disciplinary process.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4573526\/paxton-investigation-splc-judge-fraud-trial\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Paxton opens investigation into SPLC as judge sets trial for fraud case<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4573338\/trump-doj-investigation-maryland-mail-in-ballots\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump calls for DOJ investigation into Maryland\u2019s mail-in ballot system<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4572715\/doj-announces-anti-weaponization-fund-biden-lawfare\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ announces $1.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-calls-for-doj-investigation-into-marylands-mail-in-ballot-system\/\" title=\"... calls for ... into Maryland&#039;s mail-in ballot system\">776 billion \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund<\/a> for Biden lawfare victims<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"qme\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udc40 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VAmjSTTOlE\">pic.twitter.com\/VAmjSTTOlE<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\u2014 Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. (@ASGWoodward) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ASGWoodward\/status\/2056146345983869359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 17, 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Screenshots circulating online show Metzler mocking <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/samuel-alito\/\">Samuel Alito<\/a> in multiple posts. In one 2023 message, Metzler wrote, \u201cHow do you solve a problem like Alito?\u201d <\/p>\n<p>In another, he called it \u201cembarrassing for Christianity\u201d that Alito was invited to speak at Franciscan University of Steubenville.<\/p>\n<p>Other posts criticized Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/clarence-thomas\/\">Clarence Thomas<\/a>, conservative activist Leonard Leo, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Trump, including one during the Wagner Group uprising in Russia stating, \u201cTrump so jealous of Russia\u2019s coup rn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The posts were highlighted in a recent <em>Daily Signal<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailysignal.com\/2026\/05\/13\/dc-bar-bias\/\">opinion article<\/a> by Heritage Foundation legal fellow Zack Smith, who argued Metzler\u2019s conduct compromised the appearance of neutrality required for bar prosecutors.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zack Smith\u2019s screenshot from a 2023 post by Metzler on his now-deleted X account.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Smith also pointed to a June repost Metzler shared from another attorney encouraging opponents of Trump to use \u201cwhatever power we have\u201d to resist the administration, even if it damaged careers or led to prison.<\/p>\n<p>Metzler\u2019s withdrawal allows for disciplinary counsel Hamilton Fox III, another lawyer who has been accused by Trump allies of maintaining a partisan animus against lawyers in the administration, to take over in his place.<\/p>\n<p>The sudden movement in the Martin inquiry comes after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> filed a lawsuit against the D.C. Bar <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4567774\/doj-dc-bar-weaponizing-discipline\/\">last week<\/a> over the disciplinary proceedings brought against Martin and former DOJ official <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2940972\/ex-doj-officials-disbarment-trial-challenge-trump-j6-case\/\">Jeffrey Clark<\/a>. Both men are Trump allies who are facing Bar authorities over alleged misconduct tied to current administration policies and an ethics dispute surrounding past efforts to investigate the 2020 election, respectively.<\/p>\n<p>Clark already faced disciplinary charges stemming from Trump\u2019s post-2020 orders for DOJ leadership to investigate fraud allegations. He previously drafted a letter to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\">Georgia<\/a> lawmakers suggesting the department had identified \u201csignificant concerns\u201d about the election, though <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2940972\/ex-doj-officials-disbarment-trial-challenge-trump-j6-case\/\">the letter was never actually sent<\/a>. The D.C. Bar later <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dcbar.org\/ServeFile\/GetDisciplinaryActionFile?fileName=JeffreyBClark22BD039.pdf\">recommended<\/a> Clark be disbarred on July 31 last year.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ed Martin speaks at the Capitol in Washington, June 13, 2023. (AP Photo\/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Martin, who last year worked as the acting U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4486602\/dc-bar-targets-ed-martin-doj-bid-oversight-attorney-discipline\/\">was informed in March he was under disciplinary scrutiny<\/a> over letters he sent while with the DOJ to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgetown-university\/\">Georgetown University<\/a> warning the school that the Trump administration could reconsider relationships with the institution if it continued diversity, equity, and inclusion practices that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3341037\/senate-democrats-accuse-ed-martin-of-abusing-power\/\">he argued may violate federal law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4567774\/doj-dc-bar-weaponizing-discipline\/\">DOJ ACCUSES DC BAR AUTHORITY OF WEAPONIZING DISCIPLINE AGAINST FEDERAL LAWYERS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Metzler\u2019s decision is notable as his withdrawal only came after the DOJ sued the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel, accusing it of \u201cweaponizing state bar discipline\u201d against executive branch lawyers associated with Trump, and after Smith flagged his online footprint.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe D.C. Bar will no longer be permitted to probe sensitive Executive Branch deliberations and target Executive Branch officials with whom they happen to politically disagree,\u201d Associate Deputy Attorney General Stanley Woodward <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-files-complaint-against-dc-bar-disciplinary-authorities-over-their\">said<\/a> after the lawsuit was filed.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>D.C. Bar official withdrew from Ed Martin ethics probe after inflammatory social media posts resurfaced<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2604224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/e-martin.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[79899,77550,4742,79900,79901],"class_list":["post-2604223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-dcbar","tag-disciplinaryaction","tag-lawyer","tag-legalethics","tag-onlineposts"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/e-martin.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2604223"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604227,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604223\/revisions\/2604227"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2604224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}