Former prosecutors have accused the Department of Justice (DoJ) of transforming into a 'political wing' of the Trump administration, citing a series of criminal investigations targeting political and economic opponents. The criticism comes after the FBI raided a Georgia election office in January to gather evidence for Trump's debunked claims of 2020 election fraud.
Donald Ayer, a former deputy attorney general under George H.W. Bush, said a banner bearing Trump's picture hung over the DoJ headquarters symbolised the department's politicisation. 'The president's scowling face over the door is a constant reminder of all that he has done to dismantle the justice department as the trusted custodian of fair and evenhanded justice,' he said.
The DoJ has launched investigations into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell and Minnesota governor Tim Walz, both of whom Trump has publicly attacked. Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor, said: 'Trump has succeeded in completely politicizing the justice department. This justice department has been transformed into a political wing of the Trump administration, using the power of the justice system to punish Trump's enemies and reward his friends.'
Despite setbacks in 2025, when courts rejected cases against former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James, the DoJ under attorney general Pam Bondi continues to pursue controversial inquiries. A grand jury in February failed to indict Democratic senator Mark Kelly and five others over a video statement about military orders.
The FBI raid on the Fulton County election office in January was part of a criminal inquiry relying on Trump's debunked fraud claims. Trump had telegraphed his desire for prosecutions at Davos, predicting 'people will soon be prosecuted for what they did'. The DoJ's investigations into Powell and Walz have drawn strong criticism from both men and former prosecutors.
