Pursuit of Political Enemies, Mass Firings and Resignations: A Look Inside Trump’s Justice Department

KQED's Forum

KQED

News Commentary, News, Politics

4.2 • 727 Ratings

🗓️ 1 October 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The politicalization of the Department of Justice took a new turn last week when US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced an indictment against Trump nemesis and former FBI head James Comey. Donald Trump has made clear that this term, he intends to go after his personal enemies, but the capitulation of DOJ to his demands has raised troubling questions. With career prosecutors and FBI agents being fired or leaving in droves, we talk about what is happening to the Justice Department. Guests: Ismail Ramsey, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Quinta Jurecic, staff writer, Atlantic Magazine - Jurecic's most recent piece for the Atlantic is titled "The Comey Indictment Is an Embarrassment" Glenn Thrush, reporter covering the Justice Department, New York Times Ejaz Baluch, attorney, Baluch resigned from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice earlier this year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:29.1	From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Grace Juan, in for Alexis Madrigal.
0:48.3	As the federal government enters its first day of shutdown, we look to what is happening
0:52.5	at the Justice Department.
0:54.3	Last week, following immense public pressure from Donald Trump, the DOJ announced an indictment
0:59.3	against former FBI chief James Comey. The department's pursuit of the president's perceived
1:04.6	enemies and its politicalization has raised alarms. We'll talk about what federal justice
1:10.1	looks like in the Trump administration.
1:12.3	That's all coming up next, right after this news. Welcome to Forum. I'm Grace Juan, in for Alexis Matricle.
1:37.3	Throughout his campaign and into his second term as president, Donald Trump has made clear how he feels about his enemies.
1:43.4	I hate my opponent.
1:45.7	And I don't want the best for them. I'm sorry.
1:48.9	And now Trump has followed through on his threats.
1:51.5	Last week, following immense public pressure on the Justice Department, which is led by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the administration announced that James Comey, the former head of the FBI, has been indicted for allegedly making false statements.
2:05.0	Trump's politicalization of the department, which oversees the enforcement of federal criminal and civil laws, as well as the FBI, among other responsibilities, has raised alarms.
2:15.1	As one congressional representative noted, quote, the problem is how are you ever
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