The Attorney General of the United States takes an oath to the Constitution, not the President. But not in the vengeance-driven world of Donald Trump, whose appointees must not be afraid to say “Yessir.”
The 47th president sacked AG Pam Bondi not because she displayed any independence, but because she was inept. She became the second member fired in perhaps the most klutz-driven Cabinet in American history. The Republic deserves better, but almost surely will be saddled will be saddled with a Trump toady.
As the sports cliche goes, Pam Bondi put it all together. In the words of U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, “Pam Bondi turned a blind eye to Trump’s broad daylight corruption, covered up the Epstein files, used the law to go after the president’s political enemies, and fired career prosecutors who went after her.”
And to think that wasn’t enough. Pam Bondi accomplished the impossible, making John Mitchell (Nixon) look honest and Alfredo “Fredo” Gonzalez (Bush two) look able. For any comparison, look back a century to the presidency of Warren G. Harding.
The debacle is certain to debase civic education in America, fostering cynicism on the cusp of the country’s 250th birthday. The strength of the Republic will be measured by what it has endured through the politicizing of justice.
George Bush II fired U.S. attorneys. But as DelBene points out, the corruption of Trump II is unprecedented, the new Gilded Age surpassing the old.
Central to AG screwups has been naming of the presidents’ personal attorneys as Attorneys General. The country has endured William French Smith (Reagan), Griffin Bell (Carter) and John Mitchell (Nixon law partner).
The second Bush administration had its own purge, targeting eight U.S. Attorneys who did not acquiesce to the boss’ agenda. John McKay, in Seattle, was a casualty, for refusing to flip the state’s 2004 gubernatorial race.
The country could use a screening committee to vet Attorney General prospects, such as deployed by Sens. Murray and Cantwell. Vet prospective nominees and submit finalists to the president.
Good riddance to Pam Bondi and good God that we must endure the Trump presidency for three more years.
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