US EditionTrump Justice Department aims to limit ethics probes into its lawyers: Reuters
The Justice Department rule would allow the attorney general to pause state bar investigations into DOJ lawyers, potentially delaying probes into ethics complaints against Trump-era prosecutors.
- On March 4, 2026 the U.S. Justice Department submitted a proposed rule signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi that lets the attorney general review misconduct allegations and request state disciplinary authorities suspend investigations, opening for 30-day public comment starting Thursday.
- Several current and former Justice Department lawyers, including Ed Martin and Lindsey Halligan, face ethics complaints for actions since Trump returned last year, while a Washington, D.C. ethics panel recommended disbarment for Jeffrey Clark.
- Under the proposal, current or former Justice Department lawyers would be barred from assisting state probes until the attorney general's review ends, and it would not allow DOJ to end investigations, while state bar authorities would not have to defer to DOJ findings.
- The move could allow the attorney general to delay state probes by extending internal reviews, and Justice Department officials say the proposal stalls state-level disciplinary inquiries targeting Trump allies.
- All U.S. states maintain attorney-ethics rules, meaning the proposal could affect nationwide enforcement of misconduct standards like conflicts or dishonesty, impacting state bar authorities and cases like Jeffrey Clark's disbarment review last year.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Trump Justice Department aims to limit ethics probes into its lawyers | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
WASHINGTON >> The U.S. Justice Department is seeking to constrain ethics investigations conducted at the state level into alleged misconduct by its lawyers, according to a proposed rule submitted on Wednesday that would shield prosecutors pursuing President Donald Trump’s agenda.
DOJ moves to block state ethics investigations against its attorneys
The Justice Department proposed a new rule that blocks state bar associations from investigating federal attorneys as the DOJ appointees face scrutiny over alleged ethics violations while enforcing the Trump administration‘s agenda. The policy proposal, signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi on Feb. 26, essentially grants the department the right to review ethics allegations against its former and current attorneys first before state bar disciplin…
Proposed Rule Would Enable Bondi to Halt State Ethics Investigations of DOJ Lawyers
Nonprofit groups have filed numerous ethics complaints against high-ranking DOJ officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric Hamilton.
Trump AG’s push to suspend Bar Association probes into DOJ lawyers is 'bunk': legal expert
Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance is disputing a Wednesday claim by President Donald Trump's administration that it can sideline investigations by Bar Associations around the country. According to Bloomberg Law, the Justice Department is working to "suspend stat bar ethics investigations" targeting DOJ lawyers. The DOJ has clashed with judges across the U.S. and judgment, behavior and legal violations have prompted complaints to state Bar As…
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