Fresh Air The Undoing Of The Department Of Justice
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Nov 4, 2025 
Join Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Carol Leonnig and Aaron Davis as they dissect the complexities of the U.S. Justice Department's handling of cases against Donald Trump. They reveal why key investigations faltered, link FBI hesitancy to political fears, and delve into the impact of the January 6 Committee's revelations on DOJ actions. Their insights from the book ‘Injustice’ expose the struggles of maintaining fairness in a politically charged environment, raising questions about accountability and transparency in American justice.
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Caution Slowed Early DOJ Action
- DOJ's slow response to post-2020-election red flags reflected extreme caution to avoid any appearance of political bias.
- That caution, rooted in preserving institutional independence, delayed probes that might have reached juries sooner.
Archivist Warned DOJ About Fake Electors
- Waleska McClellan at the National Archives flagged coordinated fake elector certificates and sought DOJ help.
- Prosecutors turned her down saying D.C. offices were overwhelmed with January 6th riot prosecutions.
Investigative Narrowing After January 6
- Early DOJ/FBI leadership resisted broadening probes beyond riot participants to investigate possible coordination with Trump allies.
- That stance set an investigative tone that limited earlier pursuit of potential conspirators like Roger Stone.
