AP Spotlight Justice Department's independence is threatened as Trump's team asserts power ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press Feb 17, 2025 Feb 17, 2025 Updated Aug 23, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — Pam Bondi insisted at her Senate confirmation hearing that as attorney general, her Justice Department wouldn't "play politics."kAm*6E :? E96 >@?E9 D:?46 E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? E@@< @G6C E96 3F:=5:?8[ 2 DF446DD:@? @7 24E:@?D C2:D65 4@?46C?D E96 56A2CE>6?E :D 5@:?8 6I24E=J E92E]k^AmkAm%@A @77:4:2=D 56>2?565 E96 ?2>6D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 uqx 286?ED H9@ :?G6DE:82E65 E96 r2A:E@= C:@E[ DF65 2 DE2E6 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2= H9@ 925 H@? 2 >2DD:G6 7C2F5 G6C5:4E 282:?DE s@?2=5 %CF>A 367@C6 E96 a_ac 6=64E:@?[ 2?5 @C56C65 E96 5:D>:DD2= @7 2 4C:>:?2= 42D6 282:?DE }6H *@C< |2J@C tC:4 p52>D 3J D2J:?8 E96 492C86D 92?5:42AA65 E96 s6>@4C2EVD 23:=:EJ E@ A2CE?6C :? 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Social Security head steps down over DOGE access of recipient information: AP sources King's exit from the administration is one of several departures of high-ranking officials concerned about DOGE staffers' potential unlawful a…
Closed circuit TV captures armed man sprinting through security during White House Correspondents' Dinner
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