Pam Bondi Accused Of Misconduct By Legal Experts
A group of around 70 legal experts, including law professors, attorneys, and justices, submitted an ethics complaint against Attorney General Pam Bondi to the Florida Bar. They accused her of engaging in “serious professional misconduct” and showing political bias towards President Donald Trump.
The complaint alleges that Bondi has misused the Department of Justice by pressuring department lawyers to pursue the President’s political objectives or face disciplinary action. This behavior has led to violations of ethical obligations and actions that are ethically prohibited, undermining the rule of law and justice administration.
Despite the complaint, the Florida Bar dismissed it, citing that they do not investigate or prosecute sitting officers appointed under the U.S. Constitution while in office. Legal experts who signed the complaint, including retired Florida Supreme Court justices, called for an investigation and sanctions against Bondi.
This is the third complaint filed against Bondi by the group, all of which have been rejected due to her current employment status. The authors of the complaint argue that states are responsible for overseeing the ethical conduct of lawyers, including public officials, without any exemptions for federal officials.
The complaint highlights three instances of alleged misconduct by Bondi, including the firing of an immigration lawyer for speaking the truth about a deportation error, the forced resignation of a federal prosecutor who refused to open an investigation without sufficient evidence, and the DOJ’s attempt to dismiss a criminal indictment against a New York City Mayor.
In response, a DOJ official dismissed the complaint as baseless, stating that previous attempts to file complaints against Bondi have been rejected by the Florida Bar. Bondi, known for her loyalty to Trump, has supported controversial orders and publicly vowed to rid the DOJ of those who oppose the former president.
During her confirmation hearing, Bondi pledged to remain independent and free from political influence in her role as the nation’s top attorney. However, her actions have raised concerns about the politicization of the Department of Justice.
In a recent development, Trump has directed Bondi and other federal officials to investigate the Biden administration and the health of his predecessor while in office. Bondi’s close ties to Trump continue to fuel speculation about her impartiality and commitment to upholding the rule of law.
