Episode 208: For the United States: Rebuilding Independence at the Department of Justice

The Department of Justice is in crisis. The bedrock principle of non-interference, once held sacrosanct by administrations of both parties, has been jettisoned. The Attorney General has directed the Department to represent the President and his agenda above all else. Thousands of attorneys and professionals have left or been forced out as leadership pursues personal and political grudges at the President’s open direction. What reforms can be instituted to restore the department’s independence? What can be done by Congress or outside organizations to bring oversight to the abuses taking place within the department? What can future administrations do to restore the Department’s professionalism and reputation?Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.orgHost: Diane Furstenau, Director of Policy and Program, ACSGuest: Rachel Rossi, President, Alliance for Justice (and Panel Moderator)Guest: Rupa Bhattacharyya, Legal Director, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown LawGuest: Stuart Delery, Partner, Gibson DunnGuest: Stacey Young, Founder & Executive Director, Justice ConnectionLink: Blanche won't pledge DOJ independence from Trump, by Andrew PantaziLink: How the Trump administration erased centuries of Justice Department experience, by Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin RicherLink: How Trump is weaponizing the DoJ to ‘bully, prosecute, punish and silence’ his foes, by Peter StoneVisit the Podcast Website: Broken Law PodcastEmail the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.orgFollow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube----------------- Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn’t. -----------------Production House: Flint Stone MediaCopyright of American Constitution Society 2026.