Harry Litman, a former U.S. attorney and host of Talking Feds, discusses the fallout from the controversial decision to drop corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams, tied to significant resignations at the Department of Justice. Sam Bagenstos, a former general counsel for HHS and OMB, examines the chaotic governance under Elon Musk, warning of the dangers of unchecked executive power. Together, they explore the implications of these political maneuvers on law, accountability, and the fragility of government structures in the face of crisis.
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Unprecedented DOJ Conflict
The "Thursday Night Massacre" at the DOJ is unprecedented due to the clear conflict between the rule of law and political agendas.
The written record reveals a blatant disregard for due process in the Eric Adams case.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Scotten's Resignation
Hagan Scotten, a John Roberts clerk, resigned rather than dismiss charges against Mayor Adams.
His resignation letter condemned using prosecutorial power for political leverage.
insights INSIGHT
Weaponization Redefined
Trump's "weaponization" rhetoric doesn't refer to actual weaponization but to any DOJ action he dislikes.
This misuse highlights the corruption within his administration.
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On Monday, President Trump’s personal lawyer and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered prosecutors to drop federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Adams had been courting President Trump for weeks, including with a pre-inauguration visit to Mar A Lago, but the shape of the deal struck between the accused Mayor and the incoming administration came into clear view with a flurry of Department of Justice resignations on Thursday. On this week’s episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick speaks to Harry Litman, a former U.S. attorney, and host and executive producer of the podcast Talking Feds. Harry explains why the so-called “Thursday Night Massacre” is not the kind of scandal even this administration can shrug off while yelling something about the “deep state” and “weaponization”.
Next, Dahlia turns to the chaotic, destructive and dangerous “spontaneous disassembly” of much of the federal government currently taking place at the hands of Elon Musk with guest Sam Bagenstos, former general counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services until December 2024, also former general counsel for the Office of Management and Budget from January 2021 until June 2022. Now a professor at the University of Michigan, Sam explains what happens when the federal government stops working, and why persistently asking whether or not we’re in a constitutional crisis is simply the wrong question.
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Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts