diff --git a/.eslintrc.json b/.eslintrc.json
index 15056240e0..e7e85ec763 100644
--- a/.eslintrc.json
+++ b/.eslintrc.json
@@ -241,7 +241,6 @@
         "no-multi-str": 2,
         "no-native-reassign": 2,
         "no-nested-ternary": 0,
-        "no-new": 2,
         "no-new-func": "error",
         "no-new-object": 2,
         "no-new-wrappers": 2,
diff --git a/static/js/message_edit.js b/static/js/message_edit.js
index d84cf21188..0ec3e666ff 100644
--- a/static/js/message_edit.js
+++ b/static/js/message_edit.js
@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ var editability_types = {
 };
 exports.editability_types = editability_types;
 
-function initClipboard(elem) {
-    return new Clipboard(elem);
-}
-
 function get_editability(message, edit_limit_seconds_buffer) {
     edit_limit_seconds_buffer = edit_limit_seconds_buffer || 0;
     if (!(message && message.sent_by_me)) {
@@ -210,7 +206,7 @@ function edit_message(row, raw_content) {
     if (editability === editability_types.NO) {
         message_edit_content.prop("readonly", "readonly");
         message_edit_topic.prop("readonly", "readonly");
-        initClipboard(copy_message[0]);
+        new Clipboard(copy_message[0]);
     } else if (editability === editability_types.NO_LONGER) {
         // You can currently only reach this state in non-streams. If that
         // changes (e.g. if we stop allowing topics to be modified forever
@@ -218,12 +214,12 @@ function edit_message(row, raw_content) {
         // row.find('input.message_edit_topic') as well.
         message_edit_content.prop("readonly", "readonly");
         message_edit_countdown_timer.text(i18n.t("View source"));
-        initClipboard(copy_message[0]);
+        new Clipboard(copy_message[0]);
     } else if (editability === editability_types.TOPIC_ONLY) {
         message_edit_content.prop("readonly", "readonly");
         // Hint why you can edit the topic but not the message content
         message_edit_countdown_timer.text(i18n.t("Topic editing only"));
-        initClipboard(copy_message[0]);
+        new Clipboard(copy_message[0]);
     } else if (editability === editability_types.FULL) {
         copy_message.remove();
         var edit_id = "#message_edit_content_" + rows.id(row);
diff --git a/static/js/popovers.js b/static/js/popovers.js
index 9a9179e717..87c3c952b3 100644
--- a/static/js/popovers.js
+++ b/static/js/popovers.js
@@ -546,10 +546,7 @@ exports.register_click_handlers = function () {
         e.preventDefault();
     });
 
-    function initClipboard(selector) {
-        return new Clipboard(selector);
-    }
-    initClipboard('.copy_link');
+    new Clipboard('.copy_link');
 
     $('body').on('click', '.copy_link', function (e) {
         popovers.hide_actions_popover();