How Trump’s Justice Department is Testing Separation of Powers Before the US Midterms
From the attorney general stumping for Republican candidates to federal agents raiding the home of a Democratic congresswoman up for re-election, the department is violating long-standing norms
TL;DR
- The Justice Department under Donald Trump has deviated from its historical practice of political neutrality in the lead-up to the midterm elections.
- Actions taken include federal agents raiding the home of Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, announcing criminal charges against non-citizens for voter fraud, and the Attorney General campaigning for Republican candidates.
- The department demanded California election officials investigate the citizenship of 20,000 voters within 48 hours, leading to a lawsuit when officials refused to comply.
- Critics argue these actions violate unwritten department practices and manual provisions intended to prevent the appearance of influencing elections, particularly a supposed 60-day blackout window before elections.
- The DOJ's official stance is that there is no rule preventing action close to an election, and the 60-day rule was an informal practice.
- Concerns have been raised about the timing and nature of these actions, with some watchdog groups and former officials suggesting they are politically motivated and could set the stage for claims of election theft.