In a stunning rebuke of the current administration, former staffers from the US Department of Justice have used their farewell messages to launch scathing attacks on Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, accusing them of inflicting 'irreversible damage' upon the agency.
Since Trump took office in January, a significant exodus has occurred, with nearly 5,500 employees departing the DOJ through buyouts, resignations, or dismissals. Many of these individuals have cited a 'toxic work environment' in their parting communications, which have been compiled by The Justice Connection, a network for FBI and DOJ alumni.
A Culture of Loyalty Over Law
The core of the criticism centres on an alleged demand for political loyalty that overrides legal and ethical standards. Stacey Young, Executive Director of The Justice Connection, articulated this concern powerfully, stating that staff are being compelled to 'put loyalty to the President over the Constitution, the rule of law, and their professional ethical obligations.'
This sentiment was echoed by three assistant U.S. attorneys who, after resisting pressure to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, claimed in a joint statement that the DOJ now prioritises obedience above all else. They declared they would not abandon their principles simply to retain their positions.
Systemic Reshaping and Weaponisation Allegations
Further allegations suggest a systematic effort to reshape the judiciary. Anam Rahman Petit, an immigration judge, contended that the department is 'replacing career judges with less experienced or politically malleable ones' to create a bench more likely to deny cases without proper due process.
These farewell notes add to the growing controversy that has engulfed the DOJ since January, with many pointing to the agency being weaponised to target Trump's political enemies. This accusation stands in stark contrast to Trump's own frequent claims that the DOJ was 'weaponised' against him.
In a remarkable twist, Trump has even turned on the department itself, demanding it pay him $230 million in compensation for federal investigations into him, including the probe into Russian election interference and the Mar-a-Lago classified documents raid.
Despite the fierce criticism of its leadership, the departing employees were almost universally complimentary about the DOJ as an institution. Former trial attorney Carrie A. Syme expressed that she no longer recognised the 'current incarnation of the DOJ' but urged the public to remember that the majority of its attorneys are people of goodwill striving to uphold justice.
