Washington: A new report by the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) internal watchdog alleges that three senior officials in the department engaged in misconduct during the final months of Donald Trump’s presidency. The report suggests their actions, which included leaking non-public information about an investigation, may have been intended to influence the outcome of the 2020 election.
Leaked Investigation Details
According to the December report by Inspector General Michael Horowitz, obtained by Reuters through a public records request, the officials improperly disclosed plans to collect data on COVID-19 nursing home deaths in four Democratic-led states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. These states had faced criticism over their handling of the pandemic.
The report cites a text from one of the officials, stating the leak would be their “last play on them before the election but it’s a big one.” The names of the officials were not disclosed, but one reportedly worked in the DOJ’s public affairs office. All three have since left the department.
Inspector General Horowitz commented on the findings, stating, “The conduct of these senior officials raised serious questions about the partisan political motivation for their actions in proximity to the 2020 election.”
Partisan Motivation Allegations
The report does not accuse then-Attorney General Bill Barr of wrongdoing. Barr could not be reached for comment. However, it raises concerns about the politicization of law enforcement during Trump’s presidency.
Trump, who is set to return to the White House on January 20, frequently criticizes the Justice Department for alleged bias against him. Without evidence, he has accused the department of unfairly targeting him in criminal investigations regarding the 2020 election and the retention of classified documents after his presidency.
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Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the nonprofit Public Citizen, highlighted the irony of the findings. “They accused those prosecuting the former president for his crimes around election denialism and the insurrection as partisan, and simultaneously, they were doing things like this,” she said.
Nursing Home Probe
The investigation into nursing home deaths began in mid-2020, focusing on facilities in New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. These states had issued orders requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients, leading to significant controversy.
Horowitz’s report states that Trump administration officials directed prosecutors to focus on New York and New Jersey despite data indicating that other states had nursing homes with more severe quality-of-care issues.
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In October 2020, DOJ officials sent letters to the governors of New York and New Jersey requesting more information. These letters were reportedly leaked to the New York Post before reaching the governors, violating department policies on media contact. Additional leaks were made to the Wall Street Journal.
The report concluded that the timing and public disclosure of the investigation may have been influenced by the upcoming election. The Office of Special Counsel is reviewing the findings for potential violations of rules prohibiting partisan activities by federal employees.
