Feb 18, 2025 Story by: Editor
Veterans of the Justice Department are raising concerns about a recurring trend they have noticed since President Trump took office. According to them, the department appears to be giving favorable treatment to individuals perceived as loyal to the president.
Recently, the Justice Department dismissed a case against former Nebraska Republican Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. Similarly, prosecutors in Nashville withdrew from an investigation involving Republican Congressman Andy Ogles, who had introduced legislation aimed at allowing Trump to seek a third term. Most notably, the department moved to drop charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams last Friday. Though Adams is a Democrat, he has expressed a willingness to collaborate with Trump on immigration policies, including deportations.
Concerns Over Political Favoritism
Stephen Saltzburg, a veteran of the Justice Department who served under the Reagan and Bush administrations, described the situation as deeply troubling. “They’re patterns that we haven’t really seen in the past actions of the Department of Justice,” he said. “And none of the patterns inspire a lot of confidence that the department is being even handed in its approach to cases.”
Saltzburg pointed out that this trend began on Trump’s Inauguration Day when he granted clemency to over 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol riot. He argued that Trump appeared to be protecting those who acted on his behalf.
DOJ’s Actions and Their Political Implications
The Justice Department had previously charged Trump in connection with the Capitol riot and a separate case involving classified documents. However, after Trump won the November election, both cases were dropped. Additionally, prosecutors abandoned an obstruction case against two of Trump’s aides who were accused of helping him conceal classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump has consistently argued that the department’s actions against him were politically motivated. “That,” he stated, “gave him an appreciation for the plight of other politicians accused of wrongdoing.”
Fallout from the Adams Case
The decision to drop charges against Adams sparked significant controversy within the Justice Department. Seven prosecutors resigned in protest, claiming the move resembled an unlawful quid pro quo. Adams and his lawyer firmly denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, four of Adams’ top aides and deputy mayors announced their resignations on Monday.
Former public corruption prosecutor Peter Zeidenberg suggested that senior Justice Department officials made no effort to conceal the political motivations behind their actions. “The politicization of the Justice Department seems like it’s complete,” he remarked.
Last month, prosecutors in Texas also dismissed charges against a doctor accused of illegally sharing health records from a children’s hospital. Houston Public Media reported that no official reason was provided for the dismissal.
“The United States finally agreed to drop the case against Dr. Haim, and the Court granted dismissal with prejudice, which means the federal government can never again come after him for blowing the whistle on the secret pediatric transgender program at Texas Children’s Hospital,” said his attorney, Marcella Burke. “This dismissal represents a repudiation of the weaponization of federal law enforcement and the first step in accountability for the prosecutorial misdeeds witnessed in this case.”
Broader Fears About DOJ’s Direction
Justice Department insiders, speaking anonymously due to fear of retaliation, expressed concerns that the department may be selectively shielding Trump’s allies while using its legal authority against those critical of the president.
However, Chad Mizelle, chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi, dismissed these concerns, asserting that the department remains focused on prosecuting dangerous criminals rather than engaging in “politically motivated witch hunts.”
Attorney General Bondi has also vowed to tackle what she calls the “weaponization of the justice system.” On her first day in office, she issued a memo establishing a working group dedicated to this issue—one that appears to be concentrating on individuals who played a role in cases against Trump.
Harvard law professor Jack Goldsmith described the situation as a calculated strategy, writing this week that the administration’s approach amounts to “doublespeak,” designed to “weaponize DOJ law enforcement like never before” against Trump’s perceived adversaries.
Source: NPR
