I spent 20 years at the US Lawyer's Office in the Northern District of West Virginia, including 12 years as a US lawyer from 1981 to 1993. During that time, he worked with five attorney generals beyond President Reagan's two terms and President George H.W. Bush's term. He also worked with the Clinton administration for another six months.
When I was first named our lawyer, things were very different. But the recent confirmation that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondy faces in Washington, D.C. is similar to what I faced during my tenure, including issues related to drugs, organized crime and immigration. For example, it dealt with the “ownership” invasion of Jamaican criminals in cities across the country, including Martinsburg, West Virginia. Today, the US faces comparable threats from Venezuelan gangster Tren de Aragua.
America spoke. Now, Pam Bondi must answer the phone call by reshaping Goliath with David, who is willing to take over the Department of Justice to Goliath, rather than sacrifice countless David.
Perhaps more times have not changed as much as we think.
While as a US lawyer, I pioneered the use of the multijudicial task force. These teams, consisting of federal, state and local law enforcement, worked together to defeat criminals that were previously untouched. For Bondi, it is important to build and maintain this type of intersectoral cooperation and communication, especially as the Trump administration focuses on dealing with illegal immigration. The more local and state law enforcement officers she enlists, the smoother the process will be. Unfortunately, the opposite is true.
We also strongly recommend that the Attorney General encourage each U.S. law firm to operate independently, without fear of retaliation or interference.
The best attorney general I have ever worked for was Ed Mees. He gave us the freedom to pursue cases and criminals we think are of the most important. He did not impose march orders or push us to follow an agenda other than what is best for our district. US lawyers excel when pursuing their agenda.
I urge Bondi to continue her efforts in the fierce battle with the opioid epidemic. This crisis continues to destroy thousands of lives across the country each year. Recognizing the need for urgent action, Bondi's efforts in Florida have led to substantial settlements that provide much-needed resources for addiction treatment and prevention programs, including drug-assisted treatment. The same approach is required at the national level. I can think of it as less equipped than this administration, where Pam Bondi is at the helm, and not better equipped to lead the charges to win the drug war than this administration.
We also hope that the fight against human trafficking nationwide will be prioritized, as Bondi did in Florida. The initiative she defended in Sunshine State – raising awareness, improving victim services, and increasing the capacity of law enforcement to combat human trafficking should be emulated nationwide.
Similarly, her work on mortgages and financial fraud in Florida is just as important on a national scale. Devotion to consumer rights and commitment to holding strong entities accountable is more important than ever, especially after four years of false policy.
Most importantly, we must rely on Bondy to avoid the judiciary overreach of her predecessor, Merrick Garland, who allowed Special Advisor Jack Smith to run roughly the Department of Justice. It's something you shouldn't do. Independence shouldn't mean that Smith ignored traditional judicial norms and practices and undermined the very system he was supposed to support while investigating former President Trump.
America spoke. Now, Pam Bondi must answer the phone call by reshaping Goliath with David, who is willing to take over the Department of Justice to Goliath, rather than sacrifice countless David. And she will have more than just the pansou at her disposal to achieve victory.
