“Thumbing their nose at Congress” Fmr. AG Holder reacts to Epstein file release

Justice Department Independence - The report suggests a breakdown of the traditional "firewall" within the Department of Justice, where the Attorney General previously maintained a degree of independence from the President [1] - The analysis indicates a shift from Attorneys General acting as independent figures to potentially being perceived as the President's lawyer [1] - The report contrasts the current handling of matters with previous administrations, highlighting a significant difference in approach, particularly post-Watergate [2][3] Congressional Relations & Resource Allocation - The report emphasizes the importance of transparency and communication with Congress, suggesting that previous administrations would have proactively sought additional time or resources if needed to comply with requests [4] - The analysis criticizes the current approach as disregarding Congress, implying a lack of good faith effort to fulfill obligations [4] - The report suggests that adequate resources should be allocated to thoroughly review materials and provide information within the given timeframe [3]