Opinion | Trump has a network of acting prosecutors to do what he wants

In recent years, America has grown accustomed to expecting presidents to steer clear of criminal prosecutions, particularly those involving their closest associates. However, under the leadership of Donald Trump, this expectation has been turned on its head.

Since taking office, Trump has made a concerted effort to replace seasoned and Senate-confirmed prosecutors with political loyalists who are willing to bend the law to suit his interests. This move not only undermines the independence of the Justice Department but also creates an environment where prosecution is no longer about upholding justice, but rather about serving as a tool for personal vendettas.

With 18 out of 93 Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys in place, Trump has created a network of acting prosecutors who are beholden to him and will do his bidding. These acting prosecutors have been instrumental in pursuing cases against Trump's critics, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The appointment process for these acting prosecutors is highly unusual, with many lacking any actual experience as prosecutors. For instance, Lindsey Halligan, who was appointed interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has no prosecutorial experience whatsoever. Her actions in presenting felony charges against two of Trump's critics have been met with widespread criticism and are seen as a blatant attempt to silence his opponents.

The impact of this approach is far-reaching, with many experts arguing that it represents a fundamental assault on the post-Watergate norms that have defined the Justice Department for half a century. The fact that Trump has been able to sidestep the Senate and install these acting prosecutors in place, without any proper vetting or oversight, raises serious concerns about the impartial administration of justice.

The most worrying aspect of this situation is the role of Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has installed these acting prosecutors through extraordinary and untested legal maneuvers. Her actions have been likened to a "weaponization" campaign, where the Justice Department is being used as a tool for personal vendettas rather than serving the public interest.

As one former public integrity attorney noted, the reason for the Public Integrity Section of the Justice Department was precisely to prevent politicization and ensure that public officials are treated equally under the law. However, under Trump's leadership, this section has been hollowed out, with many veteran lawyers being fired or reassigned in favor of political enforcers.

The White House is also reportedly exerting intense pressure on career federal prosecutors to pursue cases against Trump's critics and opponents, creating an environment where prosecution is no longer about seeking justice, but rather about serving as a tool for personal vengeance. This campaign of intimidation and coercion is nothing short of unprecedented in American history.

In conclusion, the appointment of acting prosecutors loyal to Trump has created a crisis of confidence in the Justice Department, with many experts warning that this approach represents a fundamental assault on the independence and impartiality of the institution. As one observer noted, "This is not merely a bureaucratic reshuffle; it's a fundamental assault on the post-Watergate norms that have defined the Justice Department for half a century."

I'm not surprised that Trump has been trying to pack the Justice Department with loyalists . It's like he thinks he can just dictate justice and get away with it . Newsflash, Donald: we're onto you! The fact that he's pushing career prosecutors around and telling them to go after his enemies is a huge red flag . And what's up with these acting prosecutors having no experience whatsoever? It's like they're just puppets on strings . This whole thing is a recipe for disaster, in my opinion . If Trump wants to take on his critics, he should do it through the courts, not by manipulating the Justice Department . And what's with Pam Bondi? Is she just trying to make a name for herself or something?

This whole thing with Trump and his acting prosecutors is super sketchy 18 out of 93 Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys? That's wild I mean, what's next? Appointing their buddies to be judges too? And Lindsey Halligan has no experience as a prosecutor at all? Come on! How can we trust that she's gonna do her job fairly when she's got no clue?

US Politics

just read this article about trump's US attorneys and i'm like wow how far does he wanna take this?? i mean we already knew he was trying to screw with the justice department but this is wild. these acting prosecutors are basically just pawns for him and it's scarily close to a dictatorship vibe

anyway, looks like trump's got a whole network of loyalists in place now and they're using their power to silence critics and opponents. this public integrity section thing was meant to prevent exactly this kind of politicization but it sounds like that's been nuked outta there

OMG u guys, this Trump admin thing is GETTING WILD!!! so he's just like literally replacing all these experienced prosecutors with people who are basically his yes men and they're going after his haters left and right it's like he thinks the law doesn't apply to him or something

and let me get this straight, he's putting in people like Lindsey Halligan who have ZERO experience as prosecutors like what even is that? how can we trust these people to do their jobs? and it's not just the lack of experience, it's also the fact that they're being installed without any proper vetting or oversight

and then there's Pam Bondi, the AG, who is basically using the Justice Department as a tool for personal revenge like what's next? she's literally weaponizing the law to silence his opponents it's crazy how far he's willing to go to get ahead

anyway, I'm just low-key worried about our justice system right now like, how can we trust anyone in power?

Trump's move to hand-pick prosecutors who are only in it for him is wild . It's like he thinks he can just write his own script and everyone else has to follow it . Newsflash, Donny: the Justice Department isn't supposed to be your personal plaything . It's there to uphold justice, not serve your ego . And let's be real, when you're filling positions with people who have no experience as prosecutors, you're basically just putting your friends in charge of someone else's prison sentences . This is a huge deal and it's making me so worried about the future of our country . What's next? Is he going to start appointing his personal Twitter followers to investigate his enemies?

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/20/1135093215/trump-justice-department-prosecutors-political-loyalists

I'm really worried about where this is all headed... It feels like Trump's got a personal vendetta against anyone who crosses him, and he's just letting his loyalists do whatever it takes to silence them. Newsflash: being a prosecutor isn't about serving your boss's interests, it's about upholding justice! And if you're not doing that, then what are you even doing?

I mean, Lindsey Halligan is a total wild card - has no experience as a prosecutor and yet she's charging people with felonies without even blinking. It's just crazy. And don't even get me started on the fact that Pam Bondi is basically installing her own personal army of prosecutors to do Trump's bidding... That's not how the system is supposed to work at all.

We need some serious checks and balances here, stat! The Justice Department needs to be able to stand up for itself and follow the law, no matter who's in charge. Otherwise we're just watching anarchy unfold...

I'm super concerned about what's going down with the US Justice Dept under Trump. It seems like he's basically taking over and using the system to get back at his enemies, which is not cool at all. I agree that this undermines the whole point of having an independent Justice Dept, but I also think we need to acknowledge that there have been some questionable appointments in the past.

I mean, can you imagine if Obama had done something similar? The media would be blowing it out of proportion and Trump's supporters would be saying he's just trying to defend himself. But because it's Trump, suddenly everyone's a expert on the Justice Dept and its history . It's not fair to compare politicians or their policies without considering the context.

I'm all for holding Trump accountable, but we need to be careful not to demonize an entire institution or politicize everything under the sun. Can't we have a nuanced discussion about what's happening here? The whole thing feels really suspicious and I want to see more evidence before jumping to conclusions

omg i cant even believe what thats going down in america rn like trump is literally trying to get away with everything and his loyalists are just covering for him and its not just about james comey or letitia james, its like he's using the whole justice system to silence anyone who speaks out against him and i mean what even is the point of having a public integrity section if theyre just gonna fire the good people and bring in political hacks? and whats next, is he gonna make his buddies at fox news officials or something lol anyway im definitely worried about this whole thing and how it affects the rest of us who value fairness and accountability

I'm getting these thoughts - Trump's move to pack the Justice Dept with his pals is super concerning . Like, isn't the point of prosecutors supposed to be impartial & go after bad guys without regard to who's in charge? It seems like they're more interested in taking down Trump's enemies than actually doing justice. And what's up with this weird process of installing acting prosecutors - it's all so sketchy . I mean, isn't that how the Senate is supposed to do its job? Check backgrounds & vet people before they're confirmed? It feels like Trump is just pushing everything under a rug and hoping nobody notices

I'm really concerned about what's going on with the Justice Department under Trump . It seems like he's trying to use the system to silence his critics and punish people who disagree with him, which is just not right . I mean, come on, 18 out of 93 Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys are acting prosecutors who have no experience as prosecutors? That's crazy! And what's even more alarming is that the Attorney General is using some pretty shady tactics to install these people in positions of power .

I think this whole thing is a huge threat to American democracy and the rule of law. We need our Justice Department to be independent and impartial, not beholden to the president or his personal interests . It's like they're saying that if you don't agree with Trump, you can just expect the Justice Department to take care of business for him... no thanks!

Trump's whole thing with these acting prosecutors just reeks of desperation . Like, who needs experience or qualifications when you've got loyalty and a willingness to do his bidding? It's not like this is setting a good precedent for future administrations... but I'm sure that'll never happen . The fact that Pam Bondi is basically playing lawyer to get what she wants for Trump is just laughable . And don't even get me started on how this whole thing is being used to silence his critics and opponents. It's like, hello, isn't the point of the Justice Department supposed to be impartial justice? Not personal vendettas .

The way Trump is stacking the deck at the Justice Dept is super telling . It's like he's trying to send a message that justice only matters when it serves him, and everyone else is just collateral damage . Newsflash: being president ain't about getting away with whatever you want, it's about serving the greater good. And if you're gonna undermine the integrity of an institution as fundamental as the Justice Dept, you gotta be prepared for the consequences .

It's also wild to me that Trump is using these acting prosecutors like they're his personal enforcers . Like, what happens when they can't or won't play ball? Do we get a public showdown about who's boss? It's all so... immature . At the end of the day, this whole thing is just another reminder that power and politics can be pretty toxic .

The thing is, folks, when leaders start playing fast and loose with the rule of law, it's a slippery slope . It starts to erode trust in institutions, and next thing you know, we're living in a society where justice is just a tool for personal gain . We gotta stay vigilant and make sure that our leaders are held accountable for their actions .

Trump's move to install acting prosecutors loyal to him is really throwing a wrench into the works of justice in America. I mean, who needs Senate confirmation when you've got personal loyalty? It's like he's trying to turn the Justice Dept into his own mini-White House . And let's be real, it's not like these prosecutors are exactly qualified for the job... I heard Lindsey Halligan has zero experience as a prosecutor, but hey, who needs that when you've got Trump's backing? It's like they're just doing his bidding instead of actually seeking justice . What do you guys think about this whole thing?

Trump's move to install loyalists as prosecutors has created a huge mess ! According to reports, 71% of U.S. attorneys are now under Trump's direct supervision . This is a huge power grab and it's causing widespread concern among law enforcement officials .

The appointment process for these acting prosecutors is super sketchy - only 45% have experience as prosecutors ! And we're seeing cases like the one in Virginia, where Lindsey Halligan presented felony charges against Trump critics without a single shred of evidence . This is not how you build trust in the system .

Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi's "weaponization" campaign is getting a lot of attention . The Justice Department's Public Integrity Section has been decimated , and it's hard to see how this can be good for democracy .

I'm also seeing some disturbing trends in the number of cases being pursued by Trump's loyalists . According to my data, 62% of all cases now involve Trump critics or opponents . This is a huge departure from the way things were under Obama (when only 27% of cases involved Trump critics).

I'm not sure what's next for the Justice Department, but one thing's for sure - this crisis of confidence needs to be addressed ASAP . Here are some stats on the impact:

* 75% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans believe that Trump is using the Justice Department for personal gain
* 60% of law enforcement officials say they're worried about Trump's influence over the department
* The Justice Department's approval rating has dropped to a record low - 22%

Time for some charts! Here are the latest numbers on U.S. attorneys under Trump:

| Trump Loyalist | Career Prosecutor | Undecided |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Eastern District of Virginia | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Southern District of New York | 80% | 20% | 0% |
| Northern District of Texas | 75% | 25% | 0% |

Let's keep the conversation going!

This whole situation with Trump and his acting prosecutors is super concerning . I mean think about it - the US Attorney General is essentially using her power to install people who will do her bidding, rather than following the law or doing their job fairly. It's like she's creating a personal army of enforcers to silence opposition and silence anyone who gets in Trump's way. And it's not just the law that's being bent here - it's the very idea of impartial justice itself. The fact that they're basically ignoring the normal vetting process for appointees and just installing people with no experience is just ridiculous .

And what really takes the cake is when you think about where this whole thing started. It all began with Trump's desire to "drain the swamp" in DC, but now it seems like he's just creating a swamp of his own making - one that's filled with yes-men and sycophants who will do whatever it takes to advance his agenda. It's a toxic culture that's poisoning the very heart of American democracy.

I'm not surprised that some experts are saying this is a fundamental assault on post-Watergate norms, because that's exactly what it is . We're seeing a complete erosion of trust in our institutions and a blatant disregard for the rule of law. It's like we're living in a bad parody of The Apprentice - except instead of business deals, they're making decisions about justice and fairness. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me want to scream .

The only thing that keeps me going is that there are still some good people out there who care about doing the right thing, no matter how hard it gets . We need more of them in positions of power if we're ever going to restore some semblance of sanity and justice to this country .

Ugh, can't believe what's happening with Trump's pick for prosecutors ! I mean, come on, most of them don't even have experience as prosecutors? It's like he's just appointing friends and family to get back at his enemies. And the way they're using the Justice Department to silence critics is just ridiculous . The fact that Bondi is basically installing these people without any oversight is a huge red flag . We need more transparency and accountability in our system, not less. It's like Trump thinks he can just override all the checks and balances and do whatever he wants... no thanks!