- Top
Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Robert Garcia declare the US Justice
Department untrustworthy under AG Pam Bondi and President Trump. - Remarks
follow DOJ actions: arrest of Don Lemon for protest coverage, Fulton
County election office raids, and selective civil rights probes into
Minneapolis shootings. - Democrats
criticise partial Jeffrey Epstein files release as incomplete despite
legal mandates. - White
House calls statements “shameful,” accusing Democrats of prior
DOJ weaponisation against political foes.
Washington (Washington Insider Magazine) January 31, 2026
– Leading Democrats including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Robert
Garcia have stated publicly that the US Department of Justice cannot be trusted
under Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Donald Trump. Their remarks
followed a series of department actions, including the arrest of former CNN
anchor Don Lemon, raids in Fulton County, Georgia, decisions on civil rights
probes into Minneapolis shootings, and partial release of Jeffrey Epstein
files. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly described the comments as
“shameful” from Democrats who allegedly supported prior weaponisation
of the department.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries addressed the press in
Washington on Friday, delivering a direct indictment of the Justice
Department’s current leadership.
Aaron Rupar @atrupar
Jeffries:
“We cannot trust the Department of Justice. They’re
an illegitimate organization right now under the leadership of Pam Bondi and the
direction of Donald Trump.”
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 30, 2026
Democratic Statements Follow DOJ Actions in Minneapolis
Shootings
The Justice Department has resisted launching civil rights
investigations into two fatal shootings of US citizens by federal immigration
agents in Minneapolis. In the first incident, 37-year-old Renee Good was shot
while attempting to drive away from federal agents during a tense exchange. The
department decided not to open a civil rights probe into Good’s shooting.
In the second incident, 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot
while surrounded by agents, on the ground, and disarmed. The department
initially resisted but later announced a civil rights investigation into
Pretti’s death.
Rep. Garcia called for independent investigations by local
or state law enforcement or a special counsel into both shootings, citing
practices from his time as Long Beach mayor. He described the incidents as
“murder by our own government” and noted his committee’s work on a
major report to hold those responsible accountable.
Garcia criticised Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
and other officials for immediately characterising Good and Pretti as violent
threats, contradicting video evidence.
Justice Department Raids Fulton County Election Office
On Wednesday, the FBI raided and seized voter ballots and
other information from the election headquarters in Fulton County, Georgia.
Fulton County has been a focus of President Trump’s claims regarding the 2020
election. Attorney General Pam Bondi was an early supporter of those claims, as
were other department appointees.
Arrest of Journalists Including Don Lemon Sparks Outrage
Federal agents arrested former CNN anchor Don Lemon and
other journalists on Friday after their coverage of a protest at a conservative
church in Minneapolis. Justice Department officials stated the arrests were for
violating the rights of churchgoers, rejecting 1st Amendment claims.
The department sought warrants from multiple judges, who
denied them, before a federal grand jury issued an indictment. Rep. Garcia
claimed the indictment relied on untrustworthy information.
Jeffries called the arrest an attempt to weaponise
government against dissenters, with “zero basis” for it. He described
it as one reason Democrats are pushing legislation for independent probes into
federal agent incidents.
Sen. Alex Padilla stated: “The American people deserve
answers as to why Trump’s lawless Justice Department is arresting journalists
for simply doing their jobs.” Sen. Adam Schiff added: “The arrest of
journalists for covering a protest is a grave attack on the 1st Amendment and
freedom of the press.”
Garcia termed Lemon’s arrest “horrifying,” calling
it “the single largest attack on the free press and the 1st Amendment in
the modern era,” noting Lemon was reporting at the scene.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, heading the
Civil Rights Division, had criticised Lemon online beforehand, stating she and
Bondi “will not tolerate harassment of Americans at worship — especially
from agitators posing as ‘journalists’.”
Partial Release of Epstein Files Draws Criticism
The Justice Department released additional Jeffrey Epstein
files on Friday, complying with a November-passed law mandating public
disclosure by 19 December 2025. The files, posted on the department’s website,
include several million pages, though some remain withheld.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the release.
Previously released records contained allegations against President Trump,
which the department described as “untrue and sensationalist claims”
lacking credibility.
Rep. Garcia stated the department intends to withhold about
50 per cent of the files while claiming full compliance, calling it
“outracious and incredibly concerning.” He noted his committee
subpoenaed all files over the summer, with non-compliance by Bondi.
Rep. Ro Khanna, co-author of the Epstein Files Transparency
Act, noted the release’s incompleteness.
White House and DOJ Responses to Democratic Remarks
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly responded:
“Shameful comments by Democrats who cheered on Joe Biden’s weaponisation
of the Department of Justice against his political enemies, including President
Trump.”
She added Trump, Bondi and officials have
“quickly Made
America Safe Again by taking violent criminals off the streets, cracking down on
fraud, holding bad actors accountable, and more.”
The Justice Department defended its actions as justified and
necessary for the rule of law. Dhillon and Blanche have addressed specific
cases publicly.
The department did not respond to requests for comment on
Democratic statements.
Democratic Oversight and Impeachment Efforts
Rep. Garcia announced a leading role in impeachment
proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over mass
deportation efforts, including agent deployments to cities like Minneapolis and
Los Angeles.
House Democrats are advancing legislation for independent
local and state investigations into federal agent violence.
Context of Trump Administration DOJ Appointments
President Trump has appointed loyalists including Attorney
General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche (former personal
attorney), and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon to key positions.
Broader Judicial Concerns Over DOJ Credibility
Federal judges have questioned DOJ statements in court, with
trends of scepticism noted. In one case, a judge threatened discipline against
a Trump DOJ lawyer for potential false statements.
Reports indicate grand juries rejected
multiple DOJ cases, contrasting prior years.
Political science professor Thad Kousser commented on risks
to institutional trust, noting historical fluctuations but baseline support for
government structures.
The Democrats’ statements and DOJ actions occur amid ongoing
political tensions over the department’s independence.
