Attorney General Pam Bondi's department is hemorrhaging talent, and her decision to appear on Fox News to defend the administration's handling of sensitive issues only fuels the exodus. The crisis has sparked a war over values within the Justice Department.
Critics say that career lawyers are fleeing due to the department's increasingly partisan stance under Trump's leadership, with many warning that the consequences will be dire. "This was the ultimate example of selective prosecution," said one retiring attorney, highlighting the need for accountability and nonpartisanship in the Justice Department.
The damage is being done on multiple fronts, from gun rights to immigration enforcement, where senior officials are using Fox News to signal loyalty to Trump while riling up conservative voters. Jeanine Pirro's recent comments on arresting licensed gun owners who bring their firearms into Washington D.C. sparked outrage, and even some conservatives are speaking out against her threat.
The Epstein files also highlight the department's problems, with senior officials appearing on Fox News to downplay scandalous revelations about Trump's inner circle. The administration is struggling to maintain transparency and legitimacy in the face of mounting criticism from both sides of the aisle.
As the crisis deepens, Bondi's own actions have become increasingly erratic. She has been accused of politicizing prosecution by openly soliciting "pro-Trump" lawyers for assistant U.S. attorney positions, and her department is now hemorrhaging talent due to its increasingly partisan stance.
Judges are openly complaining about the department's broken filing system, with one prosecutor describing the situation as so chaotic that she sometimes wished to be held in contempt just to get a full night's sleep. The administration's response has been to slow down arrests and give their attorneys time to prepare cases properly โ but this is a luxury they have refused.
In short, the Justice Department is struggling to maintain its independence and integrity under Trump's leadership. As one commentator noted, the department should only exist if it is nonpartisan, as any other scenario threatens "too much for liberty." The crisis highlights the need for accountability and reform within the agency.
Critics say that career lawyers are fleeing due to the department's increasingly partisan stance under Trump's leadership, with many warning that the consequences will be dire. "This was the ultimate example of selective prosecution," said one retiring attorney, highlighting the need for accountability and nonpartisanship in the Justice Department.
The damage is being done on multiple fronts, from gun rights to immigration enforcement, where senior officials are using Fox News to signal loyalty to Trump while riling up conservative voters. Jeanine Pirro's recent comments on arresting licensed gun owners who bring their firearms into Washington D.C. sparked outrage, and even some conservatives are speaking out against her threat.
The Epstein files also highlight the department's problems, with senior officials appearing on Fox News to downplay scandalous revelations about Trump's inner circle. The administration is struggling to maintain transparency and legitimacy in the face of mounting criticism from both sides of the aisle.
As the crisis deepens, Bondi's own actions have become increasingly erratic. She has been accused of politicizing prosecution by openly soliciting "pro-Trump" lawyers for assistant U.S. attorney positions, and her department is now hemorrhaging talent due to its increasingly partisan stance.
Judges are openly complaining about the department's broken filing system, with one prosecutor describing the situation as so chaotic that she sometimes wished to be held in contempt just to get a full night's sleep. The administration's response has been to slow down arrests and give their attorneys time to prepare cases properly โ but this is a luxury they have refused.
In short, the Justice Department is struggling to maintain its independence and integrity under Trump's leadership. As one commentator noted, the department should only exist if it is nonpartisan, as any other scenario threatens "too much for liberty." The crisis highlights the need for accountability and reform within the agency.