The U .S. has a new top cop, Donald Trump's former personal criminal attorney Todd Blanche is now the interim attorney general. As the portrait of his predecessor, Pam Bondi, is swiftly removed from the walls of the DOJ.The Wall Street Journal reports President Trump told Bondi she was out as attorney general Wednesday as the pair rode together in the beast to the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship arguments. Joining me now, law professor at the University of Michigan, Leah Littman. She is co-host of th ...

Todd Blanche is now serving as acting attorney general after President Trump yesterday fired Pam Bondi. Her removal as the country's top prosecutor comes after criticism over her leadership at the DOJ and its handling of the Epstein files, among other things. The Wall Street Journal reports that the president fired Bondi Wednesday morning when the two were in the presidential limousine on the way to the Supreme Court.Bondi told an associate that Trump said to her, quote, I think it's time. She reportedly as ...

Retaliation and Abuse of Power - The report highlights a significant number, at least 470, of individuals and entities facing retaliation under President Trump's leadership [1][28][29] - The actions are designed to intimidate others and suppress dissent, even when legal challenges are unsuccessful [31][32] Legal and Constitutional Concerns - Trump's claim to invalidate pardons signed by President Biden using an autopen is baseless, as legal experts confirm the use of an autopen is legal and the Constitution doesn't require signatures on pardons [13][14] - The legality of a potential military action in Venezuela is questioned, with concerns raised about potential war crimes and violations of international law [17][18][19][20][23] - The president's authority to declare another nation's airspace off-limits is challenged [22] Pardons and Accountability - Trump could potentially issue pardons to eliminate liability for individuals involved in controversial strikes, raising concerns about accountability [24][25] - Even with potential pardons, individuals may still face legal risks under domestic laws of South American countries or international law [27]

Political Pressure on Justice Department - The report highlights President Trump's pressure on his Attorney General to take action against perceived political enemies, including James Comey, Adam Schiff, and Leticia James [1] - Trump believes these individuals are "guilty as hell" and insists on immediate action, citing impeachment and indictments as justification [2] - Concerns are raised about the potential for abuse of power and the erosion of traditional restraints on presidential involvement in law enforcement [6][7] - The report suggests Trump's actions represent an extraordinary breach of prosecutorial protocols established post-Watergate [7] Legal and Ethical Concerns - Legal experts suggest that any charges brought against these individuals could be challenged based on selective prosecution, citing Trump's public statements as evidence of political motivation [14][15] - The report mentions the difficulty for lawyers to pursue such cases, especially when evidence is thin and the president has publicly called for prosecution [16][17] - The report references a specific case (Lisa Cook) where evidence was reportedly weak, yet the president continued to press for action [19][20] Potential Consequences - The report suggests that Trump's actions could undermine any potential case in the eyes of a judge, especially given the perception of political interference [13][14] - The report indicates that the situation is considered a "five alarm fire" by some Democrats, suggesting a high level of concern about the potential consequences [10]