WASHINGTON — The new Attorney General, Pam Bondi, initiated a review of the federal prosecution of Donald Trump on Wednesday, unveiling a set of directives aimed at reforming the Justice Department, which Trump argues is biased against conservative individuals.
Bondi’s announcement came just hours after her swearing-in at the White House. She proposed the establishment of a “weaponization working group” tasked with examining the activities of Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has brought multiple criminal charges against Trump. The group’s focus will also include reviewing “unethical prosecutions” linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, according to her memo.
This memo appears to validate the claims made by Trump and his supporters that the Justice Department has been “weaponized” against conservatives. It’s worth noting that some high-profile investigations led by the department have also targeted members of the Democratic Party, including President Biden and his son, with no evidence indicating that Trump’s prosecutions were instigated for political reasons.
Among the 14 directives Bondi signed are plans to lift the moratorium on the federal death penalty and eliminate federal grants for jurisdictions that “unlawfully interfere with federal law enforcement.” Bondi had hinted at the formation of the “weaponization” working group during her confirmation hearing, where she accused the Justice Department of having “targeted Donald Trump.” In the memo, she called for the Justice Department to provide quarterly updates to the White House on the review’s progress to identify any actions appearing politically motivated rather than impartial.
Bondi also indicated that prosecutors could face termination should they decline to support the administration in court or through legal briefs, asserting that it is the responsibility of Justice Department lawyers to “vigorously defend presidential policies against legal challenges.”
This wave of directives marks a significant shift in the Justice Department’s approach under Bondi, who has a long-standing alliance with Trump and formerly served as Florida’s attorney general. She notably defended Trump during his first impeachment trial over accusations of abusing presidential power.
Democrats opposing her confirmation have expressed apprehension about her ability to lead the Justice Department independently from presidential influence, especially given Trump’s earlier declarations suggesting he would use the legal system for retribution against adversaries.
While Bondi asserts that political considerations will not factor into her decision-making, she has declined to discount any future investigations into Trump’s opponents. She echoed Trump’s characterization of his prosecutions as political persecution, asserting that the Justice Department “has been weaponized for years.”
Despite the ambitious goals outlined in the “weaponization working group” memo, there is no indication that the group will possess prosecutorial authority or the ability to issue subpoenas to obligate cooperation from inquiry subjects.
Furthermore, the memo does not reference any investigations into Democrats being conducted by Biden’s Justice Department, including ongoing special counsel inquiries into Trump’s handling of classified documents and issues surrounding his son Hunter’s legal problems, which previously led to felony convictions.
Smith’s team has been scrutinizing Trump regarding his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election as well as the retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. These cases saw indictments withdrawn following Trump’s victory in November, due to a longstanding Justice Department guideline that prohibits prosecuting a sitting president.
Smith has defended the integrity of the prosecutions, asserting that political affiliation did not sway his team’s decisions, which aimed to uphold the rule of law. In his concluding report to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Smith emphasized that the evidence collected was adequate to convict Trump for allegedly plotting to overturn the election.results, claiming it constituted an “unprecedented criminal effort.”
Earlier in the day, Bondi was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, accompanying Trump in the Oval Office—a historical moment, as it marked the first instance of Trump participating in a second-term Cabinet member’s swearing-in ceremony. This highlights Trump’s vested interest in the operations of the Justice Department, particularly given the legal challenges he faced during and after his presidency.
Trump praised Bondi for her prosecutorial experience and expressed confidence that she would ensure “fair, equal, and impartial justice” within the department. Bondi assured Trump that she would not disappoint him, vowing to restore integrity to the Department of Justice and combat violent crime in the country.
Currently, the department is experiencing turbulence due to the dismissals of various career prosecutors and senior FBI officials, compounded by heightened scrutiny of those involved in the extensive January 6 investigation. Recently, FBI agents filed a lawsuit following a directive from the Justice Department demanding the release of the names of all agents involved in the January 6 probe, which they fear could lead to extensive layoffs.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove acknowledged in a memo that FBI agents who “merely followed orders” while executing their roles ethically were not at risk of dismissal. He advised that concern should only arise for employees who acted with corrupt or partisan intent, asserting the importance of transparency and integrity within the Bureau’s operations.
