Episode 208: For the United States: Rebuilding Independence at the Department of Justice

The Department of Justice is in crisis. The bedrock principle of non-interference, once held sacrosanct by administrations of both parties, has been jettisoned. The Attorney General has directed the Department to represent the President and his agenda above all else. Thousands of attorneys and professionals have left or been forced out as leadership pursues personal and political grudges at the President’s open direction. What reforms can be instituted to restore the department’s independence? What can be done by Congress or outside organizations to bring oversight to the abuses taking place within the department? What can future administrations do to restore the Department’s professionalism and reputation?

Host: Diane Furstenau, Director of Policy and Program, ACS

Guest: Rachel Rossi, President, Alliance for Justice (and Panel Moderator)

Guest: Rupa Bhattacharyya, Legal Director, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown Law

Guest: Stuart Delery, Partner, Gibson Dunn

Guest: Stacey Young, Founder & Executive Director, Justice Connection

Link: Blanche won't pledge DOJ independence from Trump, by Andrew Pantazi

Link: How the Trump administration erased centuries of Justice Department experience, by Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer

Link: How Trump is weaponizing the DoJ to ‘bully, prosecute, punish and silence’ his foes, by Peter Stone