{"id":2672927,"date":"2026-09-29T19:59:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T23:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-senators-target-barfare-at-dc-summit\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T20:04:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T00:04:14","slug":"gop-senators-target-barfare-at-dc-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-senators-target-barfare-at-dc-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP senators target \u2018barfare\u2019 at DC summit"},"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\">14<\/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%2Fgop-senators-target-barfare-at-dc-summit%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=2672927&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>Conservative groups and Republican senators are convening in Washington to oppose what they term \u201cbarfare,\u201d a tactic involving attorney disciplinary actions aimed at punishing lawyers representing Donald Trump and his allies. the all-day summit aims to support a legal defence network ahead of potential Democratic congressional shifts and ongoing Department of Justice legal challenges against D.C.disciplinary authorities. Key figures,including Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward and prominent Trump-affiliated lawyers like John Eastman and Jeffrey Clark,will speak about resisting efforts to disbar or discipline those involved in challenging the 2020 election results. Participants criticize what they see as politically motivated bar proceedings used to intimidate and silence legal advocates,asserting such actions threaten the fairness of the justice system. The event is organized by conservative institutions such as the Claremont Institute and American ascent, emphasizing efforts to combat perceived leftist abuse of attorney discipline, and calling for reforms including Supreme Court intervention and potential dismantling of bar licensing systems.The summit also discusses strategic initiatives to build a legal infrastructure to counteract Democratic investigations, with some speakers framing the issue as part of broader political lawfare efforts.  <\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conservative organizations and Republican senators will gather on Wednesday in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"260\">Washington<\/a> to organize a response to what they describe as \u201cbarfare,\u201d the use of attorney disciplinary proceedings to punish lawyers for representing President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> and his allies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The all-day summit comes as Trump allies build a legal defense operation ahead of possible Democratic congressional majorities and as the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\">Justice Department<\/a> challenges D.C. disciplinary authorities in federal court.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<style>.explore-more-section { background: var(--wex-bg); border-top: 1px solid #ffffff; border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff; margin: 24px 0; margin-top: -20px; }<\/style>\n<style id=\"mos-c597c266-07c5-4934-baaa-ab3ad8d97c2c-style\">@scope (#mos-c597c266-07c5-4934-baaa-ab3ad8d97c2c) { .we-meter {   --we-red: #DB3745;   --we-charcoal: #323E48;   --we-blue: #15BEF0;   --we-slate: #85A0AB;   --we-gold: #ECC270;   --we-text: #323E48;   --we-border: #85A0AB;    max-width: 800px;   margin: 0 auto;   padding: 1.5rem;   border: 1px solid rgba(33, 39, 42, 0.4);   border-radius: 12px;   background: #fff;   color: var(--we-text);   font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important; }  .we-grid {   display: grid;   grid-template-columns: 1fr 200px;   gap: 1.5rem;   align-items: center; }  .we-title {   margin: 0 0 0.5rem;   font-family: Constantia, \"Lucida Bright\", \"DejaVu Serif\", Georgia, \"serif\" !important;   font-size: 1.75rem !important;   line-height: 1.1 !important;   letter-spacing: -0.02em !important; }  .we-title span {   display: block;   color: var(--we-red); }  .we-copy {   margin: 0;   font-size: 1rem !important;   line-height: 1.4 !important; }  .we-actions {   text-align: center; }  .we-cta {   display: flex;   align-items: center;   justify-content: center;   gap: 8px;   width: 100%;   padding: 12px 16px;   border-radius: 8px;   background: var(--we-red);   color: #fff !important;   text-decoration: none;   font-size: 0.9rem !important;   font-weight: 700 !important; }  .we-arrow {   font-size: 1.2em !important; }  .we-member {   margin: 12px 0 0;   font-size: 0.85rem !important;   line-height: 1.4 !important; }  .we-member a {   color: var(--we-red);   text-decoration: none; }  @media (max-width: 600px) {   .we-grid {     grid-template-columns: 1fr;     gap: 1rem;   }   .we-meter {     padding: 1.25rem;   }   .we-cta {     padding: 14px;   } } }<\/style>\n<p><script>if (typeof CSSScopeRule == 'undefined') { const style = document.getElementById('mos-c597c266-07c5-4934-baaa-ab3ad8d97c2c-style'); if (style) { style.textContent = style.textContent.replace(\/^@scope (#mos-c597c266-07c5-4934-baaa-ab3ad8d97c2c) { \/, '').replace(\/}$\/, '');}}<\/script><\/p>\n<div id=\"mos-c597c266-07c5-4934-baaa-ab3ad8d97c2c\" style=\"display: contents;\">\n<section class=\"we-meter\" aria-label=\"Washington Examiner subscription meter\">\n<div class=\"we-grid\">\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"we-title\">Stay informed.<span>Stay ahead.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"we-copy\">                  Join Washington Examiner for unlimited access to the news, analysis, and commentary that matter most.       <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"we-actions\">       <a class=\"we-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/subscribe\/digital\/\">         <span>See Options<\/span>         <span class=\"we-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u203a<\/span>       <\/a>       <\/p>\n<p class=\"we-member\">Already a member? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sign-in\/\">Log in<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward will join Sens. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-lee\/\">Mike Lee<\/a> (R-UT) for the event titled \u201cBARFARE: Stopping Bar Discipline as Political Warfare.\u201d The Conservative Partnership Institute, Claremont Institute, Oversight Project, and American Ascent are hosting the Wednesday conference, which will run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Bellator Hall on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor years, the Left has used and abused bar discipline actions as a method to scare lawyers away from certain clients and deprive their political enemies of the legal representation to which they are entitled,\u201d Lee told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>ahead of the event. \u201cThis is deeply corrupt, cutting to the heart of our justice system and the practice of law, and it must end.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Woodward, who previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/news.bloomberglaw.com\/environment-and-energy\/navarro-hires-ex-doj-lawyer-who-defended-trumps-law-firm-sanctions\">represented<\/a> White House trade adviser Peter Navarro in his contempt-of-Congress case before taking his current role, is one of the key figures in the DOJ helping lead its challenge to D.C. bar disciplinary authorities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He filed the department\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-files-complaint-against-dc-bar-disciplinary-authorities-over-their\">May 13 lawsuit<\/a> seeking to nullify disciplinary proceedings against former DOJ official and Trump ally <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4646840\/jeff-clark-disbarment-fight-dc-bar-trump-doj\/\">Jeffrey Clark<\/a>. The department argues that local disciplinary authorities cannot punish federal lawyers for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jeff-clarks-yearslong-disbarment-fight-tests-reach-of-dc-bar-over-trump-doj\/\" title=\"Jeff Clark\u2019s yearslong disbarment fight tests reach of DC Bar over Trump DOJ\">internal executive branch deliberations<\/a>, including for Clark\u2019s advocacy for a draft letter concerning the 2020 election that DOJ leadership declined to send.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another scheduled speaker, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ed-martin\/\">Ed Martin<\/a>, is the outgoing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4696529\/ed-martin-leave-doj-election-legal-battles\/\">U.S. pardon attorney<\/a> and former interim U.S. attorney for D.C. The DOJ separately backed Martin\u2019s effort to have his disciplinary case heard in federal court. Its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/media\/1440681\/dl\">complaint<\/a> cites proceedings over his letter to Georgetown University Law Center regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The summit will also spotlight <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4531313\/california-disbar-john-eastman-trump-2020-election\/\">John Eastman<\/a>, who filed a Supreme Court <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/docket\/docketfiles\/html\/public\/26-336.html\">petition<\/a> Sept. 11 challenging his California disbarment over his work contesting the 2020 election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eastman argues that campaigns against Trump attorneys are intended to discourage other lawyers from taking similar cases.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy case is the poster child for the effort \u2014 if they can disbar me, a prominent constitutional attorney, former Supreme Court clerk, and former law school dean, they can disbar anybody,\u201d Eastman told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThe chilling effect is already serving its purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He urged the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/supreme-court\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> to take his case and reject treating lawyers\u2019 speech and petitioning as less protected because they occur in a professional setting. A clear First Amendment ruling, he argued, would also make it harder for disciplinary officials to invoke qualified immunity in future cases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"60\">California<\/a> disciplinary authorities dispute his characterization. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.calbar.ca.gov\/news\/attorney-john-eastman-disbarred-california-supreme-court\">State Bar said<\/a> his disbarment followed findings that he advanced false election claims to mislead courts, officials, and the public.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Conservative Partnership Institute attorney Cleta Mitchell, the response must go beyond recruiting defense lawyers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe real question is not how do we build a network of lawyers to defend attorneys who represent conservative clients. That\u2019s really not the right question,\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cThe abuse of the bar disciplinary process by leftist activists and their billionaire donors is wholly unacceptable. It is an assault on our system of justice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mitchell called for courts and state bar associations to stop politically motivated complaints and urged the Supreme Court to vacate Eastman\u2019s disbarment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Claremont President Ryan Williams framed the dispute as a failure of professional neutrality, accusing the American Bar Association of becoming a partisan institution. The ABA is distinct from the state and D.C. authorities responsible for attorney discipline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe ABA\u2019s progressivism and hostility to the American Right is now so ingrained in the association that reform seems unlikely absent the ability of the targets of lawfare to seek compensation for the violation of their constitutional rights,\u201d Williams said. \u201cAlternatively, as our libertarian friends are arguing, perhaps the existing bar licensing infrastructure should simply be dismantled.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agenda includes alleged funding and coordination behind complaints, disciplinary cases, pardons, and potential judicial remedies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also builds on the Oversight Project\u2019s recruitment push. Clark announced Sept. 16 that he would lead a new law firm under its banner to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >challenge alleged abuses involving legislative investigations<\/a>, bar proceedings, and prosecutions. The effort would extend representation to staffers who could face legal bills if Democrats regain subpoena power after November\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4734321\/trump-lawfare-defense-subpoenas-project-oversight\/\">TRUMP ALLIES BUILDING \u2018LAWFARE\u2019 DEFENSE APPARATUS BEFORE POSSIBLE DEMOCRATIC TAKEOVER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schmitt cast the summit as part of a continuing fight over the use of government power against political opponents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis kind of lawfare flies in the face of our rights as Americans. We must continue fighting left-wing lawfare and its ramifications,\u201d Schmitt told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cWhat started under [former President Barack Obama] and continued under [former President Joe Biden] may be dormant, but it definitely is not dead.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GOP groups plan to counter alleged political lawyer discipline efforts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2672928,"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\/2026\/09\/MixCollage-29-Sep-2026-03-34-PM-7057.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[64525,6203,3709],"class_list":["post-2672927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-barfare","tag-gop","tag-senators"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MixCollage-29-Sep-2026-03-34-PM-7057.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672927","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=2672927"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2672931,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672927\/revisions\/2672931"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2672928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2672927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2672927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2672927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}