Hours after being sworn in as Attorney General, Pam Bondi wasted no time in shaking up the Justice Department.
In one of her first major moves, Bondi ordered an extensive review of the federal prosecution of President Donald Trump, signaling a sweeping effort to reform what she and many conservatives have decried as a politically weaponized Justice Department.
On Wednesday, Bondi unveiled a memo titled “Restoring the Integrity and Credibility of the Department of Justice,” outlining her administration’s plan to eliminate political bias in federal law enforcement and prosecutorial actions. She said that the DOJ must “take immediate and overdue steps to restore integrity and credibility with the public.”
To spearhead this effort, Bondi announced the creation of a “Weaponization Working Group” tasked with reviewing the actions of federal agencies over the last four years. The group, which will operate under the Office of the Attorney General and collaborate with multiple DOJ divisions, is set to investigate instances where prosecutorial power may have been misused for political objectives rather than legitimate justice enforcement.
Among the top priorities for the Working Group are Special Counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, both of whom played prominent roles in prosecuting Trump and his allies. Bondi specifically referenced Smith’s costly probe into Trump’s handling of classified documents, as well as Willis’ election-related prosecution in Georgia.
The directive also targets Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James for their roles in investigating Trump’s business dealings.
Bondi’s memo outlines key areas of concern, including:
- Jack Smith’s Special Counsel Investigation: The group will review the $50 million spent targeting Trump and scrutinize the controversial raid on his Mar-a-Lago estate.
- Fani Willis and New York Prosecutors: Federal cooperation with state-level prosecutions that appeared politically motivated, including those led by Bragg and James, will be reassessed.
- January 6 Investigations: The probe will determine whether DOJ resources were improperly used to target individuals based on political affiliation rather than clear criminal conduct.
- Religious Discrimination: The memo references a 2023 FBI memo that suggested certain Catholic practices were linked to violent extremism, vowing to examine its origins and impact.
- Targeting of Parents at School Board Meetings: Bondi immediately rescinded a 2021 memo from former AG Merrick Garland that treated parents protesting at school board meetings as potential domestic threats.
- Pro-Life Activists and Whistleblowers: The memo questions whether pro-life activists were unfairly prosecuted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, as well as potential DOJ retaliation against whistleblowers.