Shortly after she was confirmed, Attorney General Pam Bondi told lawyers at the Department of Justice that it was their job to "zealously advance, protect and defend" the policies of the United States, as set by the president. Her message was an early example of how the Trump administration has sought to transform the DOJ into a tool for the president to promote his agenda and challenge detractors. The News Hour politics team has been reviewing the events of the past year to better understand ho

Former United States Attorney Jack Smith was appointed by US Attorney General Merrick Garland as an independent Special Counsel for two criminal investigations of President Donald Trump. In these investigations, Jack Smith charged President Trump with attempting to overturn the 2020 Presidential election and mishandling government records. Jack Smith has served in the US State Department of Justice, as a US Attorney, and on an international tribunal that prosecuted war crimes in the Kosovo War.

Don’t forget Trump initially chose him to be UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL! What’s that they say about birds of a feather? Yeah, that. Follow @eorlins for more. | Eliza Orlins