Critics Say Bondi Politicizes Justice Dept, Despite Promises of Reform

The Controversial Tenure of Attorney General Pam Bondi Under Trump’s Leadership

As President Trump began his second term, Pam Bondi took the helm of the Justice Department, promising to eradicate partisanship and restore integrity. Her confirmation hearing in January set the tone for what she described as a departure from the “weaponization” of the department under the previous administration. “America will have one tier of justice for all,” she assured lawmakers, emphasizing a non-partisan approach.

Bondi, much like President Trump, contends that the Justice Department was previously politicized to target Trump and his conservative allies, citing Trump’s own legal battles as evidence. However, over 100 days into her term, critics argue that Bondi has, in fact, engaged in the very practices she vowed to eliminate.

Supporters of Bondi, such as John Lauro, a defense attorney for Trump, counter these allegations. He asserts that Bondi is actively dismantling the politicization of the department, highlighting that “there are no political prosecutions, no sham indictments, no fake grand jury proceedings” under her leadership.

Yet, voices like Liz Oyer, a former pardon attorney, raise concerns about Bondi’s approach. Oyer, who was dismissed after resisting the reinstatement of actor Mel Gibson’s gun rights due to his domestic violence conviction, argues that Bondi is following directives from President Trump, effectively transforming the department into “Trump’s personal law firm.”

Oyer’s dismissal is just one example of the alleged politicization under Bondi. Critics point to her leadership team’s background as Trump’s personal defense attorneys and their actions, such as dismissing senior FBI officials and dropping cases against Trump’s allies, as evidence of a politically motivated agenda.

Further fueling the controversy, nearly a dozen prosecutors resigned in protest over the dismissal of a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, which they claim was influenced by political considerations to benefit Trump’s immigration policies. Ryan Crosswell, one of the resigning prosecutors, lamented the erosion of the department’s integrity, stating that “corruption can affect every aspect in the community, state, country.”

Despite these criticisms, Bondi’s supporters maintain that her efforts are directed towards restoring the rule of law. However, as allegations of political influence continue to surface, questions arise about the sustainability and impact of her leadership on the Justice Department’s future.

For more on Pam Bondi’s confirmation hearing, visit NPR’s coverage.