Trump administration downsizes Justice Department unit responsible for prosecution of public corruption

The Trump administration is dismantling the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, the unit responsible for overseeing high-profile corruption prosecutions.

Three anonymous sources told NBC News that the decision significantly reduces the department's capacity to pursue cases against public officials accused of corruption, Caliber.Az reports.

Sources revealed that only a small fraction of the unit's staff will remain, and it will no longer handle investigations or prosecutions directly. Instead, ongoing cases are being reassigned to U.S. attorneys' offices nationwide. The Public Integrity Section, which previously employed dozens of attorneys, will see many of its prosecutors reassigned to other roles within the department.

The Public Integrity Section has long been at the forefront of sensitive corruption cases, with a track record that includes the prosecution of prominent figures. However, under the Trump administration, the unit's functions have been dramatically scaled back. The move comes after President Trump accused the Justice Department of politically motivated investigations against him during his 2024 campaign, leading to an executive order aimed at ending what he described as the "weaponization" of federal law enforcement.

Biden administration officials, however, have denied Trump's claims, asserting that investigations were conducted fairly and were the result of actions he himself took. They also pointed to the successful convictions of several Democrats, including former Senator Robert Menendez, for corruption during Biden's presidency.

The decision to reduce the Public Integrity Section’s scope came amidst significant controversy within the department. After federal prosecutors in New York resisted efforts to drop charges against an individual named Adams, Trump appointees at Justice Department headquarters pushed for the dismissal. John Keller, the acting head of the section, refused to comply and subsequently resigned, along with three other members of the unit.

The following day, a video meeting was held with Emil Bove, then the acting deputy attorney general, where Bove urged members of the section to file a motion to dismiss the charges against Adams. Despite resistance, Edward Sullivan, a senior litigation counsel, ultimately signed the dismissal, though he did so under pressure, reportedly to protect his colleagues.

Prosecutors noted that the dismissal was not permanent. Instead, it was done "without prejudice," a legal term that allows prosecutors to restore charges at a later time, such as if Adams were to cease cooperating with Trump’s immigration policies. Legal experts emphasized that such maneuvers raise questions about the Justice Department's commitment to neutrality and fairness in its investigations.

Justice Department guidelines have long prohibited the use of federal criminal prosecution as leverage to influence individuals or officials. However, critics argue that the Trump administration's actions appear to blur these lines, potentially undermining the department’s integrity and independence.

For the record, sources within the Justice Department emphasize that these changes reflect the administration's broader agenda to reshape federal law enforcement policies, but also reflect significant shifts in the handling of corruption cases that have long been a focal point of American legal enforcement.

By Khagan Isayev