Large banner featuring Trump’s face is displayed on Justice Department headquarters
WASHINGTON (AP) — A large banner featuring Donald Trump’s face was hung on the exterior of the Justice Department headquarters on Thursday in a physical display of the Republican president’s efforts. exercising authority over law enforcement he had once researched it.
While Trump banners were hung outside other institutions across Washington, the decision to place a banner on the storied Justice Department building represented a striking symbol of the erosion of the department’s tradition of independence from White House control.
A banner hung between two columns in one corner of the building reads the slogan “Make America Safe Again,” which the administration uses to tout its efforts to curb illegal immigration and violent crime.
Attorney General Pam Bondi He positioned himself as chief supporter and protector of the presidentHe eschewed the approach of his predecessors, who tried to keep an arm’s length distance from the White House to preserve the impartiality of investigations and prosecutions.
Trump officials have rejected accusations that they have weaponized the Justice Department for political purposes and said the Biden administration is the one that has politicized law enforcement with two federal criminal cases against Trump that were canceled after he won the 2024 election.
The Justice Department said in a statement Thursday that it was proud to “celebrate 250 years of our great country and our historic work, at the direction of President Trump, to make America safe again.”
The Trump administration’s launch of an investigation into some of the president’s perceived enemies has increased concerns that the agency is being used to take revenge on political enemies.
Federal prosecutors filed charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey was later dismissedand searched separately suing several Democratic lawmakers in connection with a video in which they called on US military members “Resisting illegal orders“
The Ministry is also investigating Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell Congressional testimony and Democratic Minnesota officials On whether they obstruct federal immigration enforcement through public statements.
