(Photo by Yuri Gripas-Pool/Getty Images)
I’ve already written about Hogan Lovells partner Neal Katyal’s harrowing escape from the deadly mud at Burning Man and his ability to avoid the plague of World War 1, trench foot. But I’m not the only one to notice Katyal’s adventures in the Nevada desert.
Jeffrey Clark is the former Department of Justice employee who earned the scorn of other lawyers in Trumpland for his efforts to keep Donald Trump in power following the 2020 election. That also notched him a Georgia indictment and the title unindicted co-conspirator in the federal January 6th indictment against Trump.
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Anyway, Clark is back in the news with thoughts about the annual Burning Man festival, and Katyal’s attendance. And it’s safe to say his take is very different.
Why am I not surprised that Neal Katyal made it a priority to get to a neopagan ritual?
See picture below in lower right.
Pray that these folks come to the light & realize that the only path is through and to our Lord.
We are all fallen and need God, and to repent as a Nation. https://t.co/6m9Dk1Ddcj
— Jeff Clark (@JeffClarkUS) September 3, 2023
Um, whaaaa? That reads like religious zealot Mad Libs. Katyal had an absolute fire response:
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Dear Criminal Defendant Clark:
I am a Hindu. Are you suggesting I do not belong in this country?
You might be better off studying our Founders, the text of our First Amendment, and (albeit for other reasons), the Criminal Code.
I sincerely wish you the best,
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) September 3, 2023
But legal Twitter/X wasn’t done with Clark.
Clark is beneath contempt. Great response by @neal_katyal. Admirably restrained but utterly devastating. https://t.co/HJGZoNjZ0i
— Laurence Tribe ⚖️ (@tribelaw) September 4, 2023
My Dearest Neal:
The respectful and proper form of address for @JeffClarkUS is “Your Most Excellent Inmateship P01135824.”
No need to delete and repost. Just flagging for future reference.
Your friend,
g https://t.co/KbJ2ShALZG— George Conway (@gtconway3d) September 4, 2023
Jeff Clark posts this ridiculous diatribe without the faintest hint of irony
Were you coming to the light while plotting to overthrow our government, Jeff?
Were you repenting as the insurrectionists you enabled were assaulting Capitol Police?
No
You were enjoying the carnage https://t.co/4RZAht7Gua
— Adam Cohen Lawyer for Good Governance #DemCast (@axidentaliberal) September 3, 2023
Hell, it wasn’t just lawyers piling on Clark. Beloved sports reporter Mike Lupica got in on the action.
Well, yeah, Jeff, but next year Neal will still have his law license. So there’s that. https://t.co/2TqQS1Iqyc
— Mike Lupica (@MikeLupica) September 4, 2023
A boneheaded social media screed definitely isn’t Clark’s biggest problem at the moment, but it sure ain’t a good look.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].