Three senior U.S. Justice Department officials violated policies by leaking details of a non-public investigation during Donald Trump’s presidency, likely aiming to influence the 2020 election, according to a December report by Inspector General Michael Horowitz.
The report, obtained by Reuters, revealed that officials shared information with media outlets about plans to investigate COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan—states with Democratic governors criticized for their pandemic response. One official texted that the leak would be “our last play on them before the election.”
Although unnamed, the officials no longer work at the department. Then-Attorney General Bill Barr was not implicated. Horowitz condemned the conduct as politically motivated, raising concerns about its proximity to the election.
Federal prosecutors began probing nursing home deaths in mid-2020, focusing on Democratic-led states despite evidence showing significant issues in other regions. In October 2020, officials leaked letters sent to New York and New Jersey governors to the New York Post before the recipients received them, violating Justice Department media contact policies. Details were also leaked to the Wall Street Journal.
The Inspector General concluded that election considerations influenced the probe’s timing and public disclosures. The Office of Special Counsel is now reviewing the report.
Critics, including Lisa Gilbert of Public Citizen, noted the irony of Trump allies accusing the Biden administration of politicizing law enforcement while engaging in similar actions. Trump has frequently criticized the Justice Department, accusing it of bias in its investigations of him.
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