WASHINGTON, D.C. — Might 6, 2025
Critics are elevating alarms that the U.S. Division of Justice (DOJ) below Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi has turn out to be more and more politicized within the first three months of President Donald Trump’s second time period, regardless of pledges to get rid of its alleged weaponization. Bondi, sworn in on February 5, 2025, vowed throughout her January affirmation listening to to revive integrity and guarantee “one tier of justice for all,” explicitly promising to finish partisanship throughout the division. Nonetheless, actions taken by the DOJ since her appointment have sparked issues about political motivations driving its agenda.
One outstanding instance is the creation of the “Weaponization Working Group,” introduced by Bondi on her first day. The group goals to research previous federal and native prosecutions of Trump, which Bondi described as “overly politicized.” Critics argue this initiative targets officers who investigated Trump, together with these concerned within the January 6 Capitol riot circumstances, whereas dismissing or dropping circumstances towards Trump’s allies, such because the corruption case towards New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams. The dismissal of the Adams case, reportedly to keep away from interfering with Trump’s immigration enforcement priorities, led to the resignation of practically a dozen prosecutors, together with Ryan Crosswell from the Public Integrity Part, who described the choice as providing solely three choices: “signal it, resign, or be fired.”
Additional fueling issues, Bondi and her high lieutenants, a lot of whom beforehand served as Trump’s protection attorneys, have overseen the firing of prosecutors concerned in Capitol riot circumstances and pushed out senior FBI officers. A former senior DOJ official from Trump’s first time period, talking anonymously, famous that Bondi’s crew seems to view profession attorneys as a “hostile setting,” underutilizing their experience. This has led to accusations that the DOJ is prioritizing political loyalty over neutral justice.
Supporters, together with Trump’s former protection legal professional John Lauro, counter that Bondi is addressing prior weaponization by the Biden administration, which they declare focused Trump and conservatives by way of politically motivated prosecutions. Lauro, talking at a Federalist Society occasion, praised Bondi’s management for specializing in “restoration and making certain the rule of regulation.”
Social media sentiment on X displays a polarized divide. Some customers laud Bondi’s efforts to carry “corrupt bureaucrats” accountable, whereas others warn that the DOJ is being reworked right into a instrument for “political revenge,” undermining the rule of regulation.
Critics like former DOJ legal professional Oyer, fired in March 2025 after refusing to revive gun rights to actor Mel Gibson because of public security issues, argue that selections are pushed by political issues reasonably than experience. Oyer acknowledged, “The Division of Justice is actually regardless of the president needs it to be proper now.” Crosswell echoed this, asserting that politicizing the DOJ to appropriate perceived previous weaponization just isn’t an answer however an escalation.
The DOJ’s actions distinction with Trump’s January 21, 2025, govt order directing the Lawyer Normal to evaluate previous enforcement actions for proof of weaponization and suggest remedial measures. Whereas the administration frames these strikes as restoring impartiality, critics argue they replicate a deliberate effort to align the DOJ with Trump’s private and political aims, elevating questions concerning the division’s independence.
