Former FBI Director James Comey is standing trial today. For Trump's critics, this is a clear sign of the president's abuses of the Justice Department. It carries out "only Trump's will", they say.
In response to a question from Democrat Adam Schiff, one of Trump's fiercest critics, Bondi in turn asked whether Schiff would actually like to apologize to the president. And she repeatedly pointed out that during the presidency of Democrat Joe Biden, the Justice Department was the victim of political abuses for years - including to impeach Trump. Now there are no such abuses, Bondi pointed out, quoted by German public television ARD.
However, for Democrats and many legal experts in the United States, the opposite is true. "What the Justice Department is doing under Donald Trump has nothing to do with justice", says former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer, who held this position under George W. Bush. He pointed out to MSNBC that it is only about carrying out the president's will. And his will is only related to his personal desires, says Ayer.
Settling scores with political opponents
One of the president's personal desires was undoubtedly the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, a critic of Trump. After the indictment against him was announced, Comey said that for years he and his family had known very well that standing up to Trump had a price. But Comey emphasizes that he is innocent and that he is not afraid.
A few days ago, in a post on social media, Trump even openly urged Bondi to expedite the indictments against his political opponents. Trump named James Comey, Democrat Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ARD recalls.
During the Senate hearing on Tuesday, Democrat Amy Klobuchar demanded to know from Bondi whether this was an instruction from Trump to the Justice Department. Bondi replied: "Trump is the most transparent president in history".
Trump actually makes no secret of the fact that he wants to settle accounts with his political enemies. The president explained that there was no list, but that after Comey, others who were corrupt would probably follow.
And if a prosecutor does not follow the established line, they are simply replaced, as in the case of James Comey. The prosecutor in charge in Virginia, Eric Siebert, did not want to indict the former FBI chief. But he was put under so much pressure that he resigned. He was replaced by Lindsay Halligan, who has no experience as a prosecutor so far, but is a former Trump lawyer and most recently worked in the White House, ARD points out. Halligan prepared the indictment against Comey, and the independent jury approved it.
Former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer believes that the government is not making any effort to have a partisan, independent Justice Department. "They appointed people who are completely unqualified, they are targeting the president's enemies," says Ayer.
Many legal officers have been fired
Since Donald Trump took office, many legal officers have been fired - including people who investigated Trump, writes ARD. But while previous attorneys have tried to emphasize that the department acts independently and does not take instructions from the president, Pam Bondi does not even try to hide it. It was also evident at the Senate hearing.
Bondi's behavior was completely at odds with what has happened in similar hearings before, said CNN legal expert Elliot Williams. He spoke of a "remarkable hearing" - as remarkable as the indictment of James Comey. According to Donald Trump's critics, it is evidence of the government's plans: to intimidate enemies and crush dissent.