After Trump: All the ways the next president can restore trust in the Justice Department

[Nevilledog]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/08/18/donald-trump-william-barr-joe-biden-fix-justice-department-column/5596214002/

Sally Yates is a career federal prosecutor who stayed on as acting attorney general during the early days of the current administration. Her assumption that the Department of Justice would be governed by the rule of law turned out to be a bad match for President Donald Trump’s vision. But her attempts to hold to that principle earned her a speaking slot Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention.

While many Americans may not be familiar with Yates, those of us who devoted our careers to serving the public at DOJ will recognize her. What we barely recognize is the current incarnation of the only Cabinet agency named for an ideal. That’s why some of us have put together a blueprint for reviving trust there.

"Restoring Integrity and Independence at the U.S. Justice Department," a new report released by the Center for American Progress, makes 11 recommendations for codifying norms, closing loopholes and fixing problems laid bare by a DOJ that has at times seemed more intent on using the law to protect the president than to serve the American people.

Special treatment for Stone and Flynn

Among the priorities identified in the report: Limit contacts between DOJ and the White House to prevent political meddling in case decisions, adopt a clear policy about election year activities to avoid “October surprises” that could affect the outcome of elections, and establish charging and sentencing policies free from politicization. Attorney General William Barr has undermined the credibility of the department by taking the highly unusual step of intervening in cases against Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, allies of the president. Even if his decisions were not politically motivated, their special treatment, which aligned with the interests and tweets of the president, created an appearance that deeply damaged DOJ reputation for independence.

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[kacekwl]

1. Best way is to prosecute criminals.

I have a whole list of republican traitors they can start with.