Tag

#DOJ weaponization

The use of the Department of Justice as a political tool to prosecute opponents, shield allies, and suppress dissent — a fundamental corruption of the justice system's independence and impartiality.

5 incidents

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

DOJ 'Grand Conspiracy' Probe of Trump's Investigators Subpoenas John Brennan to Fort Pierce Grand Jury as Lead Prosecutor Quits (September 2026)

The Justice Department is using a Florida grand jury to investigate the officials who once investigated Trump, on a theory that the Russia inquiry and the classified-documents case were themselves a criminal conspiracy against him. It subpoenaed former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI personnel who worked on the Mar-a-Lago investigation. The lead prosecutor quit after reported pressure over the pace of the probe. No charges have been filed, and the targets deny wrongdoing.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

DOJ Indicts James Comey Over Instagram Photo in 'Vengeance Tour' Prosecution (April 2026)

Trump's DOJ indicted former FBI Director Comey for posting an Instagram photo of seashells reading '86 47,' claiming it was a death threat. Many former prosecutors and scholars called it a political prosecution of protected speech. Comey faces prison time for a social media post expressing opposition to Trump's presidency. The case is part of Trump's documented 'vengeance tour' targeting political enemies.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

DOJ Indicts Southern Poverty Law Center Over Its Paid-Informant Program (April 2026)

Trump's DOJ indicted the SPLC — the nation's leading hate-group monitor — on fraud and money laundering charges over a now-defunct program that secretly paid informants inside white supremacist groups, alleging the payments defrauded donors and funded extremism. The SPLC pleaded not guilty on May 7, 2026. Norm Eisen said 'we've never seen a case like this under a Democratic or a Republican administration.' The prosecution is pending.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Epstein Files: DOJ Withholds Evidence, UN Experts Warn of Crimes Against Humanity

After signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Trump administration's DOJ missed legal deadlines, secretly re-redacted files, and withheld documents containing an unadjudicated allegation that Trump sexually abused a minor. Separately, UN special-procedure experts stated that a number of the crimes described in the files 'may reasonably meet' the threshold of crimes against humanity. The case has drawn bipartisan congressional subpoenas of AG Bondi, and calls for a special counsel over alleged perjury.

Grade 3 of 5: Serious Rights Violation

Weaponization of the Department of Justice: Retaliatory Investigations and Prosecutions

Systematic weaponization of the DOJ through a retaliatory investigations unit, indictments of political opponents that were dismissed as brought by an unlawfully appointed prosecutor, mass departure of career prosecutors, and dismantlement of the Civil Rights Division and Public Integrity Section.