In just two weeks, President Donald Trump’s administration has rapidly reshaped the Justice Department under the leadership of Emil Bove, a former Trump defense attorney. Bove, 43, who previously helped defend Trump in his hush money case, now serves as acting deputy attorney general, spearheading major policy changes critics say threaten DOJ’s independence.
Bove oversees 110,000 DOJ employees until Trump’s nominee, Todd Blanche—another former Trump defense lawyer—is confirmed. A former federal prosecutor, Bove has secured terrorism and drug trafficking convictions but also faced scrutiny over an overturned conviction due to an evidence-handling error.
Since taking office, Bove has made controversial moves. Hours after Trump pardoned nearly all Capitol riot defendants, Bove ordered the firing of probationary prosecutors handling Jan. 6 cases and demanded a list of FBI agents involved in the probe. He also directed federal prosecutors to investigate local officials refusing to assist immigration enforcement, launching an inquiry into a New York sheriff and personally observing migrant arrests in Chicago.
Democratic lawmaker Jamie Raskin condemned these actions as a “repulsive affront to the rule of law.” Meanwhile, a DOJ spokesperson declined to comment.
Bove’s past includes securing high-profile convictions, but his supervision of a case led to an overturned conviction due to delayed evidence disclosure. Though an internal DOJ probe found flaws, it ruled out intentional misconduct.
Despite the temporary nature of his role, Bove continues to push forward aggressive legal changes in line with Trump’s agenda.
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