Michael Patrick Leahy, CEO and editor-in-chief of The Tennessee Star, made the case for Jeff Clark as a potential wildcard pick for attorney general, as President Donald Trump seeks a permanent replacement following last week’s ouster of Pam Bondi.
In the interim, Todd Blanche, a former personal attorney to Trump who had been serving as deputy attorney general, was named acting attorney general, while other names, including U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, have reportedly been considered for the permanent role.
On Friday’s edition of his talk radio show, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Leahy praised Clark’s legal background and alignment with Trump-era policies, arguing he would bring both experience and resolve to the position.
“I think that [Clark] is a superb attorney with great experience in the Department of Justice, with great experience defending the Trump agenda… who like Donald Trump, has been subjected to unfair lawfare,” Leahy said.
Clark (pictured above), who recently joined the Oversight Project as vice president of litigation after serving in the Trump administration, has a long resume that includes senior roles at the Department of Justice and leadership within federal regulatory policy.
The Star’s lead reporter, Tom Pappert, offered a more supportive perspective, suggesting Clark’s nomination could send a clear message about the direction of the Justice Department.
“I do think that it would be a significant and serious signal to the Department of Justice… that this is going to be a Department of Justice that has goals and works toward accomplishing them,” he said.
Pappert added that Clark’s attention to detail, though criticized by some, might prove beneficial, further arguing that such a nomination could influence the department’s workforce.
“I appreciate maybe spending too much time dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s… that would also be perhaps a benefit,” Pappert said.
“Perhaps we could achieve my goal… getting these people who are not aligned with the administration to simply leave their job and go to the private sector,” he added.
The discussion also turned to the political realities the president faces as he prepares to name a nominee. National reporter Neil McCabe emphasized that Senate dynamics – particularly within the Judiciary Committee – could determine whether a candidate advances.
“You have a better chance on the Senate floor of getting a MAGA candidate through than you do getting it through Judiciary Committee,” he said, noting internal party constraints. “Grassley has said that every Senate Republican has to agree with the nominee… so that’s why Tom Tillis was allowed to block Ed Martin.”
On other potential candidates, McCabe suggested Blanche and Zeldin would likely face smoother confirmation paths, while more controversial figures – such as Clark and even Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice Harmeet Dhillon – could encounter resistance.
As for timing, McCabe indicated a decision could come soon, noting, “I think we’ll see it in the next week… he may wait until after Greek Easter as the Senate returns the Tuesday after Greek Easter, and he may drop that right on their lap.”
Tune in now to The Michael Patrick Leahy Show – your AMERICA FIRST news talk!
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Background Photo “DOJ Building” by ajay_suresh. CC BY 2.0.
