A bar complaint has been filed against U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan by the government watchdog group Democracy Restored, alleging dishonesty and conduct that interfered with justice during her time as a senior official at the Justice Department. The complaint, submitted to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals’ Office of Disciplinary Counsel, requests an investigation into whether Sooknanan violated the D.C. Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct.
The complaint highlights Sooknanan's rulings against the Trump administration and her involvement in a voter verification system that linked Social Security records with federal citizenship data, which she ruled likely violated federal privacy laws. Critics, including Senator Eric Schmitt and billionaire Elon Musk, have raised concerns about her dual citizenship and questioned her impartiality.
The allegations in the complaint also reference Sooknanan's testimony during her Senate confirmation hearing, where she claimed not to be the lead counsel in a controversial case, contradicting statements from her former law firm. The filing is part of a broader trend of ethics complaints targeting legal professionals involved in politically charged cases. It remains uncertain whether the Office of Disciplinary Counsel will initiate a formal investigation into the matter.