President Donald Trump has broken with tradition by not attending the swearing-in ceremonies of his Cabinet officials, instead having Vice President JD Vance and others participate in the ceremonies. However, on Wednesday, Trump attended Attorney General Pam Bondi’s swearing-in. Bondi, a former member of Trump’s legal team, faced scrutiny during her confirmation process over her independence from the White House. This is not the first time personal lawyers have been tapped for top positions at the Department of Justice, with notable examples including William French Smith under President Reagan and Robert F. Kennedy under President Kennedy.
Bondi represented Trump in his first impeachment trial and was involved in the legal team that sought to overturn the 2020 election. Trump also named Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, both former members of his legal team, to top positions at the Department of Justice. Concerns have been raised by legal experts about the impartiality of these nominees and their willingness to stand up to the president if needed.
The appointments of personal lawyers to top positions at the Justice Department under Trump have drawn comparisons to historical precedents, such as John F. Kennedy appointing his brother Robert F. Kennedy as attorney general and Richard Nixon appointing his former law firm colleague John Mitchell. Ultimately, the ability of these nominees to remain impartial and stand up to the president when necessary will determine the direction of the Justice Department under Trump’s administration.
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