Justice Connection projected a quote from John Adams on the Justice Department’s headquarters this evening to publicly protest the latest corruption of the department by this administration: creating a $1.776 billion taxpayer-fueled fund to pay the President’s supporters who believe they were “victims of lawfare and weaponization,” and immunizing the President, his family, and his businesses from tax audits and prosecutions.
A projection on the DOJ headquarters building that reads, “A government of laws, not of men – John Adams”
“This so-called settlement solidifies the near complete control one man has over the Justice Department,” said Stacey Young, executive director and founder of Justice Connection. “By using DOJ to protect the President, punish his enemies and reward his friends – this time with cash taken from taxpayers – the administration has shifted the country away from a system of laws and toward an era of lawlessness. At the President’s direction, Justice Department leadership fired prosecutors who held rioters accountable, and will select the commissioners who will reward those rioters with cash payments.”
The projection was displayed over a banner hung by Justice Department leadership featuring an image of Donald Trump, a visible reminder to those working in the building of who currently controls their tremendous prosecutorial power. Photos and videos of the projection can be found in this folder.
The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” fits a pattern of corruption that is eroding the Justice Department’s integrity and Americans’ faith in the rule of law. The loss of the department’s commitment to the rule of law has emerged in several profound ways:
Creating a Two-Tiered System of Justice: Our justice system fails when the President dictates prosecutorial decisions. When the President determines who is investigated or prosecuted, he can use the department to treat his political allies favorably while punishing his perceived enemies. When the public fears they could be targeted for opposing the President, or conversely believes they can break the law with impunity, the rule of law is rendered hollow.
Destroying the Separation of Powers: The Constitution clearly gives power to Congress to pass laws, and tasks the executive branch with neutrally enforcing them. However, by declaring himself the “chief law enforcement officer” and using the DOJ to aggressively advance Executive Orders that contradict statutory text, the President overrides laws passed by Congress. This usurpation of legislative authority fundamentally breaks the separation of powers that underpins our legal system.
Evaporating Judicial and Public Trust: Historically, the Justice Department’s integrity earned it a “presumption of regularity,” meaning judges and juries trusted that federal prosecutors were acting in good faith. Because DOJ leadership has repeatedly advanced political agendas, violated court orders, and forced career attorneys to make baseless arguments, this hard-earned credibility has vanished. Judges now scrutinize the department with intense skepticism, and grand juries across the country refuse to indict cases brought by the government. When the public and the courts cannot trust the nation’s top law enforcement agency to tell the truth, the department becomes incapable of effectively enforcing the law, which ultimately threatens public safety.
