• Troubling Shift: Attorney General Bondi's Controversial Moves Raise Corruption Concerns at DOJ

  • Feb 23 2025
  • Length: 4 mins
  • Podcast

Troubling Shift: Attorney General Bondi's Controversial Moves Raise Corruption Concerns at DOJ

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  • Summary

  • In recent days, Attorney General Pamela Bondi has made several significant moves that have garnered considerable attention and raised concerns about the direction of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under her leadership.

    On her first day in office, February 5, 2025, Attorney General Bondi issued a series of memoranda to DOJ employees, outlining new priorities and procedures for various areas of enforcement. One of the key changes involves the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which prohibits the bribery of foreign government officials. Bondi directed the DOJ to prioritize investigations related to foreign bribery that facilitates the operations of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and to shift focus away from cases that do not involve such connections. This means that local U.S. Attorney Offices now have more autonomy to initiate and charge FCPA cases associated with cartels and TCOs, with only 24 hours’ notice to the main DOJ office in Washington, D.C.[2][5].

    These changes have raised concerns that the DOJ may deprioritize enforcement of the FCPA against companies that commit bribery but are not linked to cartels or TCOs. Additionally, Bondi's memo announced the disbanding of three DOJ anti-kleptocracy initiatives that were crucial in targeting and seizing ill-gotten assets of corrupt foreign actors, particularly in countries like Russia and China. This move is seen as significantly diminishing the U.S.'s ability to counter transnational corruption[1][2].

    Furthermore, the DOJ has taken several actions that have weakened its ability to pursue both domestic and foreign corruption. In January 2025, the Trump Administration abruptly removed and reassigned several highly experienced DOJ staffers, including the chief of the Public Integrity Section, a nonpartisan career official. This reassignment has been described as the "dismembering of a core cadre of nonpartisan, institutional experience" that is invaluable to the Justice Department's mission[1].

    The DOJ has also made controversial decisions regarding specific cases. For instance, the department decided to terminate the prosecution of Mayor Adams, a move that has been criticized for its apparent transactional nature. According to reports, Adams's attorneys suggested that he would assist with the Department's enforcement priorities only if the indictment were dismissed. This decision was corroborated by a DOJ memorandum that expressed concern about the prosecution's impact on Adams's ability to support immigration objectives set by President Trump and the Attorney General[1].

    Additionally, the DOJ has withdrawn felony charges against Representative Fortenberry and decided to withdraw from an investigation concerning Representative Ogles. These actions, along with President Trump's pardon of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted on 17 criminal charges related to corruption, have led to accusations of favorable treatment for certain public officials and a weakening of anti-corruption enforcement[1].

    On February 10, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing Attorney General Bondi to further adjust DOJ's enforcement priorities, which has added to the concerns about the department's ability to effectively combat corruption. These recent actions and policy changes have sparked significant scrutiny and calls for transparency and accountability within the DOJ[1][2].
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