In Washington, President Trump is effectively putting Attorney General Pam Bondi on notice, urging her to prosecute his political opponents. This weekend, he posted several messages on social media, expressing frustration over the lack of prosecutions and suggesting his former personal attorney take the lead on various investigations.
Trump’s social media message addressed Bondi directly, declaring, “We can’t delay any longer, it’s hurting our reputation and credibility,” targeting figures like New York Attorney General Letitia James, ex-FBI Director James Comey, and Senator Adam Schiff with his call for action. He exclaimed, “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
This demand comes right after Trump dismissed a top federal prosecutor in Virginia who had been pressured to file charges against James and Comey but had yet to take action. In a conversation with reporters later that night, he added, “I just want people to act quickly; it needs to happen fast.”
These comments mark a significant moment where Trump openly exerted control over the Justice Department, which is traditionally expected to operate independently concerning criminal investigations. Senator Schiff responded, indicating that the blatant political motivations behind these actions are clearly visible.
Lawyers for both James and Comey have not yet commented on the issue. Former federal prosecutor Jonathan Kravis criticized Trump’s push, claiming it contradicts the fundamental principles of the Justice Department, which should prioritize the lawful pursuit of facts rather than the president’s personal vendettas. Kravis expressed concern that such political pressures could jeopardize the integrity of the prosecution process.
If the department decides to proceed with charges that Trump desires, Kravis highlighted that defendants could argue the prosecutions stem from improper motivations, potentially complicating the legal battle ahead.
Trump further stated the need for a “tough prosecutor” to head the U.S. attorney’s office in eastern Virginia. He recently forced out Erik Siebert, a seasoned prosecutor who had not been able to build a solid case against James regarding alleged mortgage fraud. The investigation into Comey regarding his statements during congressional testimony has also remained stagnant.
To lead the federal prosecutor’s office, Trump announced Lindsey Halligan as his nominee. Halligan, one of Trump’s personal lawyers and a White House aide at just 36 years old, previously faced the task of removing what Trump called “improper ideology” from Smithsonian properties.
Trump touted Halligan as someone who will bring “Fair” and “Smart” leadership to the post, reinforcing his need for justice in these politically charged investigations.
With a background as an insurance attorney in Florida, Halligan has been part of Trump’s legal team since 2022 and was present during the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago linked to classified documents after Trump’s presidency. She also represented Trump in a legal challenge against that search, although a federal judge later overturned the initial ruling that blocked the usage of seized documents.
Additionally, Halligan played a role in a defamation suit against CNN that a federal judge dismissed this year.
For more details, you can reach out to Sadie Gurman at sadie.gurman@wsj.com and C. Ryan Barber at ryan.barber@wsj.com.
