Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.), a former prosecutor, stated Lawyer Gen. Pam Bondi is “undermining” the “fundamental professional ethic” on the Justice Division that claims DOJ prosecutors are supposed to “do justice.”
In an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday,” anchor Chris Stirewalt requested the California Democrat about experiences that the DOJ is “getting rid of prosecutors that don’t want to take the hard line on immigration” that’s embraced by Bondi and the Trump administration.
Liccardo first blasted the administration for deporting folks accused of being gang members with out granting them due course of, saying, “It’s not just my idea. It’s actually in the Constitution, and it’s a pretty good idea.”
He then expressed concern concerning the impact Bondi’s strikes could have down the road.
“As a prosecutor, unlike other lawyers, you have this opportunity, not simply to serve a client and be loyal to that client, but actually to do justice. That’s why so many prosecutors love what they do,” he stated.
“What we’re seeing from Bondi in this administration, not unlike what we’re seeing in a lot of aspects of this administration, is undermining that fundamental professional ethic that federal prosecutors are there to do justice,” Liccardo continued. “They’re there to tell the court the truth at all times. That means you turn over exculpatory evidence. It means you dismiss cases if you don’t have the evidence to prosecute.”
“And what we’re seeing is completely undermining that, I think, for another generation. That’s going to be very detrimental to our country,” he added.
Requested what recommendation he would give to prosecutors who don’t know learn how to proceed of their jobs, Liccardo stated, “Do everything that your professional ethic requires you to do, that your conscience requires you to do, and in the meantime, look for another job.”
