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Controversies at the Department of Justice are nothing new, but some observers say the efforts to politicize the Justice Department are “extraordinary” and “unprecedented.”

Washington Post investigative reporter Tom Hamburger has focused his reporting on the role of Attorney General William Barr and other top Justice officials, and yesterday he spoke about what he's learned. The University of Minnesota Humphrey School titled the event, "Weaponizing the Department of Justice." 

Is the attorney general supposed to be the president’s personal lawyer, and work to help his interests? 

Hamburger said the established traditions and norms of the post-Watergate attorneys general seem to have been breached or forgotten. 

Justice Department officials are — by their own rules — supposed to steer clear of actions that could influence an election.  Hamburger said “we’re seeing a Justice Department top official undermining confidence in mail-in voting. That’s the thing to watch.” 

Former Vice President and U.S. Senator Walter Mondale joined the discussion, which was moderated by political science professor Larry Jacobs via Zoom on Sept. 14. 

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Washington Post reporter Tom Hamburger and former Vice President Walter Mondale discuss the politics of the Department of Justice at a University of Minnesota Humphrey School event. 

Is the U.S. Department of Justice being 'weaponized?'

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