Transformation of US Justice Department under Trump’s 2025 second term

The concept of prosecutorial independence in the US has developed over a century, with the attorney general role established in 1789 and the Justice Department in 1870 to counter political patronage. Challenges arose during Nixon’s presidency in the 1970s, with accusations of manipulating prosecutions for political gain. Unlike Nixon, Trump openly used the Justice Department to target his foes, breaking from past discretion.

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