A group of former US Department of Justice attorneys has come forward to shed light on what they describe as outrageous corruption permeating federal law enforcement during President Donald Trump’s administration.
In an extensive article released by the New York Times, these attorneys outlined how politicized prosecutions became the norm, detailing directives to gather dirt on Trump’s rivals while neglecting serious investigations into threats like terrorism and white-collar crime.
It turns out the troubling practices began right on Trump’s inauguration day when he issued a sweeping pardon to participants in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, desperately trying to thwart the certification of Joe Biden’s election win.
Gregory Rosen, who was overseeing the prosecution of the January 6 rioters, expressed feeling ‘numb’ upon witnessing these pardons but facilitated them since they were technically within the bounds of the president’s power.
Meanwhile, Mike Romano, a prosecutor for these cases, noted that he was compelled to resign after observing the extensive clemency being granted, especially to those who had assaulted law enforcement officers.
Looking back, he lamented, “It’s demoralizing to see the hard work of four years dismissed due to a misguided narrative that prosecuting the rioters was a national injustice. We had clear evidence against every single individual we charged.”
But the trouble didn’t stop with those pardons; it set the stage for broader and more severe politicization across the DOJ.
In March, Trump issued an executive order that specifically went after law firms previously associated with Democratic figures. This order instructed federal agencies to terminate contracts with these firms while revoking their employees’ security clearances.
Additionally, the same order accused certain firms of racial discrimination because they adhered to policies meant for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Dena Robinson, a former DOJ attorney in the Civil Rights Division, characterized the probe into law firm Perkins Coie as an extreme instance of politicization. “They alleged that Perkins Coie was discriminating against white men, despite the fact that only 3% of their partners are Black. When this was pointed out, the higher-ups weren’t interested; they’d already made up their minds,” she disclosed.
Robinson denounced the approach of Trump appointed officials, explaining that investigations began with preconceived conclusions and deliberately overlooked evidence that might contradict them.
“I can’t even call it the Justice Department anymore,” she stated. “It has turned into Trump’s private legal office, and this should infuriate Americans.”
Trump’s use of pardons for political allies has further ignited controversy, particularly after his recent decision to pardon Changpeng Zhao, the founder of cryptocurrency platform Binance, who had admitted to money-laundering in 2023. Zhao had also played a significant role in enhancing Trump family’s cryptocurrency interests.
A fresh investigation by ProPublica revealed that the network of pardons extended beyond prosecutions initiated in Democratic terms. The probe highlighted that Trump had wiped out convictions in numerous criminal cases from his first term, many involving politicians caught in corruption schemes.
Law professor Frank O. Bowman III from the University of Missouri commented that collectively, Trump’s pardons acted against the very structure of the Justice Department, undermining its role as a neutral entity meant to uphold the law.
Moreover, ethical standards at Trump’s DOJ have come into question, especially concerning officials’ acceptance of gifts. Joseph Tirrell, former overseer of the Department’s ethics office, recounted a struggle to keep DOJ personnel from accepting cigars from MMA fighter Conor McGregor and a soccer ball from FIFA.
He emphasized to the AG’s office that items had to be either returned, bought back, or tossed away. Not long after, he received a call from FBI‘s general counsel exploring whether gift rules could be relaxed after FBI Director Kash Patel’s requests for more luxuries.
Tirrell stressfully reminded them that his loyalties lay with the nation, not with individual matters.
Patel has faced increased scrutiny for his own accumulation of perks, including using the FBI’s private jet for personal trips, showing just how far the ethical lines have blurred under his management.
MS NOWreported that Patel granted girlfriend Alexis Wilkins the rare privilege of having a security detail composed of elite FBI agents, raising eyebrows regarding appropriateness.
Christopher O’Leary, a former senior FBI agent and contributor at MS NOW, stated there’s “no acceptable explanation” for extending such security detail to someone who does not share a home or city with the FBI director. “This is clear misuse of authority and diverting government resources,” he stressed.
