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President Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Pam Bondi as attorney general has reignited concerns over the independence of the Department of Justice (DOJ), with legal experts and lawmakers questioning whether she and her deputies will act impartially.
Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and longtime Trump ally, took her oath of office on Wednesday—the first swearing-in ceremony Trump has attended for a Cabinet official in two weeks. The confirmation process was dominated by concerns about her ability to maintain independence from the White House, especially given her previous role on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial and efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.
“I think she’s going to be as impartial as you can possibly be,” Trump said at the ceremony. “I’m not sure if there’s a possibility of totally, but she’s going to be as total as you can get.”
Concerns Over White House Influence
Trump’s DOJ appointments go beyond Bondi. He named Todd Blanche, his lead defense lawyer in the New York hush money case, as deputy attorney general, while John Sauer, who successfully argued Trump’s presidential immunity case before the Supreme Court, was tapped to be solicitor general. Legal experts warn that these appointments create an unprecedented dynamic where the DOJ’s leadership consists largely of attorneys who defended Trump personally.
Bob Bauer, former White House counsel to President Barack Obama, voiced concerns that Trump is attempting to reshape the DOJ’s norms. “Their relationship to him is entirely that of personal lawyers,” Bauer said. “Now they are being put in the Department of Justice, where the client won’t be Donald Trump but the United States government.”
John Yoo, former deputy assistant attorney general under President George W. Bush, also noted the unusual nature of these appointments. “There’s a big difference between just advising a president on their will and trusts versus fighting in the criminal courtroom against the United States government,” Yoo said, adding that such nominations give the DOJ a “much more combative, partisan flavor.”
Historical Precedents and Risks
While past presidents have appointed close allies as attorney general—John F. Kennedy famously chose his brother Robert, and Richard Nixon picked campaign strategist John Mitchell—history has shown that such appointments can lead to controversy. Mitchell’s close ties to Nixon played a role in the Watergate scandal, ultimately leading to his imprisonment.
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who served under President George W. Bush, emphasized that an attorney general’s primary responsibility is to uphold justice, not serve the president’s personal interests. “The concern arises when the president asks you to do something that is contrary to the interest of justice,” Gonzales said. “You have to have the backbone to recommend against it, and if necessary, resign.”
Gonzales also criticized Bondi’s characterization of the DOJ as having been “weaponized for years.” “I think it is harmful for career folks to hear that they have politicized the Department of Justice,” he said.
Trump’s DOJ Strategy
Trump’s first term was marked by tensions with his initial attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who recused himself from the Russia investigation, leading to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Trump later called Sessions’ recusal the “biggest mistake” of his presidency. Experts suggest Trump’s latest DOJ appointments are a reaction to that experience, ensuring that key legal figures are personally loyal to him.
“Given everything we know about Trump, I would be utterly shocked if he didn’t pick everyone who was loyal to him for every job,” Yoo said.
As Bondi takes charge of the DOJ, her leadership will be closely scrutinized. Whether she and her team can balance loyalty to Trump with their duty to uphold the law remains an open question—one with significant implications for the integrity of the Justice Department.
