Bulwark Takes Bill Kristol & Joyce Vance: The Rule of Law in Peril
Sep 26, 2025
Joyce Vance, a former U.S. Attorney and legal scholar, joins Bill Kristol to dissect critical threats to the rule of law. They delve into the dismissal of a U.S. attorney who resisted Trump's prosecutorial demands, highlighting the importance of evidence-based prosecution. Vance warns of the dangers of politicized cases targeting opponents, comparing Trump's tactics to historical authoritarianism. They emphasize the need for public action and support for moral prosecutors in these challenging times.
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Prosecutors Must Follow Facts, Not Orders
- The fired interim U.S. attorney, Eric S. D. (Eric Siebert), refused to prosecute cases he judged lacked sufficient evidence.
- Joyce Vance warns that prosecutorial decisions must follow facts and law, not presidential demands.
Federal Principles Guard Against Weak Indictments
- The Federal Principles of Prosecution bar indicting without sufficient evidence to secure conviction and survive appeal.
- Career prosecutors in EDVA reportedly concluded they lacked probable cause to indict Jim Comey.
Inexperienced Replacement Installed In EDVA
- Trump appointed a replacement for EDVA with little prosecutorial experience, someone tied to his defense efforts.
- Joyce Vance contrasts that pick with the usual high qualifications expected for EDVA U.S. attorneys.