UMVA has learned that a judicial misconduct complaint has been filed against U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, alleging that he failed to recuse himself from a high-profile lawsuit involving President Donald Trump's effort to rename the Kennedy Center.
The complaint, filed by a conservative watchdog group, claims that Cooper's wife, Amy Jeffress, has a history of representing clients with interests opposed to Trump's, creating a clear conflict of interest that should have prompted Cooper to bow out of the case.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Cooper ruled against Trump in May, permanently blocking the renaming of the Kennedy Center after a lawsuit was filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty. The watchdog group argues that Cooper's involvement in the case could raise reasonable questions about his ability to be impartial under the federal judiciary's Code of Conduct.
The complaint specifically points to Jeffress's history of representing high-profile clients, including former anti-Trump FBI lawyer Lisa Page and former President Joe Biden, who is currently suing Trump's Justice Department. This has led to allegations that Cooper may have violated several canons of judicial conduct, including the requirement to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the complaint argues Cooper's actions may have caused an appearance of impropriety, warranting a full investigation. The watchdog group is urging the D.C. Circuit to investigate Cooper and determine whether disciplinary action is warranted.
Cooper's wife, Amy Jeffress, is a longtime Democrat activist and attorney who has worked as counsel to the January 6th committee and currently represents Biden in ongoing litigation against Trump. The complaint argues that Cooper should have recused himself or at least disclosed the potential conflict of interest.
The allegations against Cooper have been mounting for some time, with Trump himself slamming the judge for having a "conflict of interest" due to his wife's track record of representing Trump's biggest foes.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that Cooper has long been the target of conflict of interest allegations from Trump and his allies, dating back to his involvement in the prosecution of former Clinton campaign-linked attorney Michael Sussmann.
