On February 5, President Trump delivers remarks alongside Attorney General Pam Bondi during her swearing-in ceremony at the White House.
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Justice Department officials with extensive experience are observing a trend a month after President Trump assumed office: they believe that the department is favoring individuals who demonstrate loyalty to the president.

Recently, the Department of Justice dropped charges against former Nebraska Republican Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. Additionally, prosecutors in Nashville ended an investigation into Republican Congressman Andy Ogles, who proposed legislation allowing Trump to pursue a third presidential term. Furthermore, last Friday, the Justice Department moved to dismiss charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams. Although a Democrat, Adams has expressed a willingness to collaborate with Trump’s immigration policies, including deportations.

Stephen Saltzburg, a seasoned Justice Department official from the Reagan and Bush 41 administrations, describes the situation as alarming: prosecutors appear to be distancing themselves from cases involving individuals connected to President Trump.

“These are practices we’ve not previously witnessed in the Department’s history,” he remarked. “None of these patterns inspire confidence that the department is impartial in its case management.”

Saltzburg noted that this started on inauguration day when Trump granted clemency to over 1,500 individuals who participated in the Capitol riot, suggesting it was an effort to assist those acting on his behalf.

Is the Justice Department Being Politicized?

Trump has been charged by the Justice Department in connection with various cases, including one linked to the management of classified documents. Following Trump’s victory in the November election, prosecutors decided to drop both sets of charges. Subsequently, prosecutors also abandoned their obstruction case against two of his aides allegedly assisting him in concealing classified documents from the FBI at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump asserts that he believes the department’s actions are politically motivated, which has led him to empathize with other politicians facing allegations of misconduct.

However, certain actions by the department have had severe repercussions. The aftermath of the Adams case continues to unfold, with seven prosecutors resigning rather than participating in dropping the case, citing a perceived unlawful quid pro quo. Adams and his attorney have vehemently denied these allegations. Additionally, on Monday, four of his senior aides and deputy mayors announced their resignations.

Former public corruption prosecutor Peter Zeidenberg remarked that senior officials at the Justice Department did not attempt to conceal their politically-motivated actions aimed at securing Adams’ cooperation with immigration authorities.

“It appears that the Justice Department has been entirely politicized,” he observed.

Recently, federal prosecutors in Texas dismissed charges against a physician accused of illegally sharing health records from a children’s hospital, without providing any explanation for the dismissal, according to Houston Public Media.

Attorney Marcella Burke stated, “The federal government has agreed to dismiss the case against Dr. Haim, resulting in a judgment with prejudice, meaning the federal government cannot pursue this matter again for exposing the covert pediatric transgender program at Texas Children’s Hospital. This dismissal signifies a rejection of the abuse of federal law enforcement and a notable first step towards accountability для prosecutorial misconduct displayed in this case.”

Sources within the Department of Justice, speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation, express concerns that the department may assist Trump’s allies while simultaneously leveraging its investigative powers against those who criticize him.

Chad Mizelle, chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi, asserts that this department is committed to focusing on its primary function— prosecuting dangerous criminals—rather than engaging in “politically motivated witch hunts.”

Bondi has also emphasized her intent to address the weaponization of the justice system, issuing a memo on her first day to establish a task force for this purpose, initially targeting individuals who initiated cases against Trump.

Harvard law professor Jack Goldsmith recently commented that this situation appears to be “doublespeak,” fitting within a strategy aimed at “weaponizing DOJ law enforcement like never before” against Trump’s perceived adversaries.