What does justice look like for president’s friends and foes?
The events of this week are raising pointed questions about the rule of law and the political independence of America’s largest law enforcement agency.
On Tuesday, in an extraordinary move, the U.S. Department of Justice reduced its sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone, a conservative political consultant, after President Donald Trump tweeted his dismay at the previous recommendation federal prosecutors had made for his longtime confidant. By the end of the day all four career DOJ prosecutors had withdrawn from the case, and one resigned entirely.
The Justice Department is ostensibly an independent agency within the executive branch. But it has increasingly launched probes into the president’s opponents and softened penalties for his allies since Attorney General William Barr became its leader last year.
Those moves stand in opposition
“Principles of punishment”Sword and shieldBarr’s Justice Department
