President Donald Trump has effectively created a shadow network of acting prosecutors to serve his own agenda, ignoring long-standing norms that ensure independent investigations into high-profile cases. These unconfirmed appointees are allegedly installed in key positions through unconventional maneuvers by the Attorney General's office, bypassing Senate oversight and confirmation processes.
The lack of confirmed U.S. attorneys under Trump is striking, with only 18 of 93 slots filled. This power vacuum has led to the deployment of acting prosecutors who seem more focused on advancing the administration's interests than adhering to established investigative procedures.
One notable example is Lindsey Halligan, appointed as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Despite having no prosecutorial experience, she proceeded with presenting felony charges against prominent critics like former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James before a grand jury. This move seems to contravene Justice Department norms, as prosecutors typically refrain from charging suspects unless they have sufficient evidence for conviction.
The appointment of loyalists such as John Sarcone III in the Northern District of New York has also raised concerns about partisan bias. In an unusual move, Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Sarcone "indefinitely," bypassing traditional judicial appointments and Senate oversight. This decision has sparked debate among constitutional law experts and prosecutors alike.
In other cases, Trump's appointees have shown a willingness to pursue politically motivated prosecutions rather than strictly adhering to the facts and law. The case of Alina Habba in New Jersey, who charged Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. LaMonica McIver with crimes based on her personal connections, has drawn criticism for its apparent lack of procedural integrity.
As these appointments gain notoriety, questions arise about the long-term implications for the Justice Department's legitimacy and reputation. Critics argue that Trump is eroding the institution's independence and undermining public trust in its ability to administer justice impartially.
The lack of confirmed U.S. attorneys under Trump is striking, with only 18 of 93 slots filled. This power vacuum has led to the deployment of acting prosecutors who seem more focused on advancing the administration's interests than adhering to established investigative procedures.
One notable example is Lindsey Halligan, appointed as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Despite having no prosecutorial experience, she proceeded with presenting felony charges against prominent critics like former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James before a grand jury. This move seems to contravene Justice Department norms, as prosecutors typically refrain from charging suspects unless they have sufficient evidence for conviction.
The appointment of loyalists such as John Sarcone III in the Northern District of New York has also raised concerns about partisan bias. In an unusual move, Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Sarcone "indefinitely," bypassing traditional judicial appointments and Senate oversight. This decision has sparked debate among constitutional law experts and prosecutors alike.
In other cases, Trump's appointees have shown a willingness to pursue politically motivated prosecutions rather than strictly adhering to the facts and law. The case of Alina Habba in New Jersey, who charged Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. LaMonica McIver with crimes based on her personal connections, has drawn criticism for its apparent lack of procedural integrity.
As these appointments gain notoriety, questions arise about the long-term implications for the Justice Department's legitimacy and reputation. Critics argue that Trump is eroding the institution's independence and undermining public trust in its ability to administer justice impartially.
I'm all about tech news, but this one is kinda wild 
. So Trump is basically creating his own team of prosecutors without Senate oversight? That's some serious power play 
. It's like he's trying to control the narrative and who gets charged with what crime 
. I mean, we've all heard about his questionable behavior, but this takes it to a whole new level 
. If true, these appointments are definitely a red flag 
for the Justice Department's independence. Can't imagine how that'll impact public trust 
. Anyway, let's talk more about something fun - have you seen the latest Oculus VR headset? It's a game-changer 
!
What if these people aren't qualified for the job or aren't even supposed to be there? It's super concerning that they're more focused on advancing the admin's interests than doing actual justice. I mean, we need a fair and impartial system, not some puppet show where the prosecutor is just following orders 
. It seems like they're more interested in advancing their own agenda than upholding the law. The lack of confirmed U.S. attorneys is crazy, and it's only a matter of time before we see some real problems down the line. Lindsey Halligan's move to charge James Comey and Letitia James without sufficient evidence was just plain wrong 
. And what's with Pam Bondi bypassing Senate oversight for John Sarcone III? It's just not right 
. We need independent investigations, not partisan appointments that prioritize loyalty over justice 
. The Justice Department's reputation is at stake here, and it's up to us to speak out against this kind of behavior 
.
It's like they're playing politics with people's lives. Felony charges against critics like James Comey and Letitia James without sufficient evidence? That's not how justice works. What's next? Will they start charging Trump's enemies too? 
It's like, can we not have a president who wants to stick it to his opponents without making the whole thing look fishy?
and what's with the lack of confirmed US attorneys? 18 out of 93 slots are open?! that's crazy 
. this whole thing is giving me major 'witch hunt' vibes 
. And these acting prosecutors are more concerned with advancing Trump's agenda than doing real justice 
! Can we please just get back to some sense of normalcy here? 
. Lindsey Halligan, for example, was just trying to do her job and keep America safe 
. And what about John Sarcone III? He's a loyal public servant who deserves some respect 
. The Justice Department has been around for a long time and it's got its own set of problems 
. This is just another example of politics as usual 
. The Justice Department has survived plenty of presidents in its history and it'll survive this too 
.
a special task force to investigate who's been investigating too many investigations? 
. no wonder they're gonna appoint some acting prosecutors who are more worried about winning at Trump's basketball league than following actual evidence 
.
. sounds like someone needs to brush up on their prosecutorial skills (and maybe a law degree) 
.
I'm literally sitting here thinking about how our school's judiciary system works and how important it is to have unbiased and fair investigations. It's like, can you imagine if someone just made up charges against teachers or staff members without any evidence? 