DOJ vets say politically charged moves close to election violate norms
Summary
Former Justice Department officials say the department’s recent public investigative steps involving Democratic politicians and former FBI officials, taken weeks before the midterm elections, depart from long-standing practices meant to avoid influencing elections. The department says it is following facts and law, while some cases have faced setbacks in court or before a grand jury.Key Facts
- The Justice Department searched Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home as part of an investigation involving accusations of immigration fraud.
- Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas and her daughter, Lisa Lucas-Burke, were indicted on drug and bribery-related charges tied to an alleged scheme involving Lucas’s cannabis business.
- Former FBI officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides were charged with lying to Congress about their roles in the Hunter Biden laptop investigation.
- A magistrate judge rejected new charges prosecutors sought to add in the case against Floris and Benavides and criticized the government.
- An FBI agent said the probe into Floris and Benavides began at FBI Director Kash Patel’s request after President Trump called for an investigation of former counterintelligence officials.
- Prosecutors took steps to bring another case against former FBI Director James Comey, saying the timing was tied to a statute of limitations deadline.
- A grand jury rejected proposed charges against former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson over her testimony to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
- The Justice Department said it was following the facts and the law, not a political timetable.
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