When former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, the 87th United States Attorney General, took office, promising competence and calm after years of political corruption and chaos, I was hopeful that the tide at the Department of Justice had finally turned.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. Very wrong.
From the start, Bondi’s tenure has been a letdown. Instead of challenging the corrupt legacy of her predecessors [Merrick Garland (Biden, 2021-2025), William Barr (Trump, 2019-2020), Jeff Sessions (Trump, 2017-2018), Loretta Lynch (Obama, 2015-2017), and Eric Holder (Obama, 2009-2015)] — ranging from ignoring blatant wrongdoing of the Clintons and others, the weaponization of FISA warrants, the stonewalling of congressional subpoenas, and the blatant double standards in prosecution—Bondi has too often chosen the path of least resistance. Rather than taking on entrenched corruption, she’s engaged in sycophantic cheerleading for President Donald Trump, as though her office’s primary role is political messaging rather than equal enforcement of the law.
What We Expected
Under her watch, the nation reasonably expected the DOJ to:
- Investigate and adjudicate former President Biden’s use of the autopen—a convenient tool used to rubber-stamp controversial executive actions.
- Examine how that autopen was tied to reckless policies: the wrongful release of violent felons, the last-minute distribution of billions in taxpayer funds to progressive allies, and the quiet dismantling of key border security measures.
- Conduct a thorough review of DOJ corruption, including bringing charges against DOJ and FBI officials who—through sworn testimony and documentary evidence—have been shown to act improperly.
Examples That Still Demand Answers
- The Crossfire Hurricane debacle, in which political motivations trumped facts.
- The Hunter Biden laptop cover-up, where FBI officials appear to have suppressed evidence before the 2020 election.
- The persecution, not prosecution, of January 6 participants, many of whom had their civil rights violated by the government under a vindictive administration.
- The Epstein files, mishandled to the point of absurdity, leaving victims once again without closure.
Each of these demanded not only investigation but decisive prosecution. Instead, we’ve received press conferences, vague promises, and minimal action.
A Leadership Crisis at the FBI
My disappointment extends to FBI Director Kash Patel. Once billed as a reformer, Patel’s tenure increasingly feels like showboating rather than substance. And what of Deputy Director Dan Bongino? Once hailed as Patel’s natural ally in reform, he now seems sidelined—his fate sealed after his very public clash with Bondi over her mishandling of the Epstein records.
The fallout is telling: reformers are muzzled, insiders are emboldened, and the American people are left wondering if the DOJ can ever truly be trusted again.
Why It Matters
Beyond the expected pursuit of fair and equitable justice, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. This historical case requires the sharpest legal minds, not political hacks.
Currently, we see the appointment of a Trump loyalist, Lindsey Halligan, as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to bring an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, despite the previous U.S. Attorney’s decision not to bring charges due to insufficient evidence. The issue is that Halligan is an insurance lawyer with no experience prosecuting criminal cases or managing an extensive legal practice. As we noted elsewhere, the Comey Grand Jury only allowed two out of the three counts requested, and it is debatable whether the case may be won.
Bottom Line
It appears we are screwed unless Bondi—and those around her—course-correct. The DOJ cannot survive as a mere echo chamber of politics. Americans deserve a Justice Department that is fearless, transparent, and willing to prosecute corruption no matter where it leads.
Pam Bondi promised to be that leader. She hasn’t been. And unless something changes fast, history will remember her not as a reformer, but as just another cog in the machine she once vowed to dismantle.
— Steve
