By Blessing Nweke
More than a year after Attorney General Pam Bondi launched a “Weaponization Working Group” to investigate alleged political abuses in federal probes of President Donald Trump, the Justice Department is racing to produce its first report amid mounting internal and political pressure.
According to a person directly familiar with the group’s efforts, Justice Department leaders have directed members to meet daily in the coming weeks to finalize findings tied to priorities outlined in Bondi’s Feb. 5, 2025 memo. Another source said a preliminary report is expected soon.
The urgency follows the abrupt removal last week of Ed Martin, the conservative activist appointed to lead the group in May. No public explanation was given for his dismissal. The Justice Department has not announced who is currently overseeing the initiative.
“The Justice Department is actively looking into the areas outlined in Attorney General Bondi’s ‘Day One’ memo,” a department spokesperson said, adding that the group is working to “restore integrity” across the agency.
The pressure coincides with private complaints from Trump, who has reportedly described Bondi as insufficiently aggressive in targeting his political opponents. Despite the criticism, White House officials say Bondi’s job is not in jeopardy, and Trump publicly praised her work, calling her efforts “tremendous.”
The working group was formed under Trump’s executive order titled “Ending the Weaponization of the Government,” directing agencies to review investigations deemed politically motivated. Trump has long denounced the federal and state cases brought against him as a “witch hunt.”
Critics, including former Justice Department officials, argue the administration itself is politicizing federal law enforcement. Stacey Young, a former DOJ veteran, said the initiative has yet to secure meaningful legal victories and warned of broader institutional risks.
The scope and leadership of the working group remain unclear as scrutiny intensifies.
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