The Lawfare Podcast

Lawfare Daily: The Public Integrity Section, Threats, and Criminal Contempt with John Keller

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May 27, 2025
John Keller, a partner at Walden, Macht & Haran and former Chief of the Public Integrity Section at the DOJ, shares his insights on pressing legal matters. He discusses proposed changes to the Public Integrity Section that could undermine fair corruption investigations. Keller analyzes the complexities of criminal threats related to social media, especially concerning former FBI Director Jim Comey. They also delve into criminal contempt, distinguishing it from civil contempt and exploring its implications in upholding judicial authority.
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INSIGHT

Role of Public Integrity Section

  • The Public Integrity Section (PIN) handles investigations into public corruption and election crimes nationwide.
  • PIN ensures impartiality by consulting on politically sensitive cases, preserving consistency and expertise across districts.
INSIGHT

Risks in Reducing PIN Role

  • Removing PIN's consultation role shifts sensitive corruption decisions solely to politically-appointed U.S. Attorneys.
  • This risks politicizing investigations and reduces uniformity and subject matter expertise in election crime and corruption cases.
ADVICE

Value of Specialized Expertise

  • Maintain a dedicated specialized team like PIN to ensure political neutrality in public corruption cases.
  • Use consistent national standards and subject matter expertise to protect fairness and public trust.
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