Justice Department Scales Back Public Corruption Unit

The DOJ plans to reassign cases from the Public Integrity Section, reducing its staff from about 30 attorneys to as few as five.

The Public Integrity Section, established after Watergate to prosecute public corruption, is being significantly downsized by the Trump administration.
Prosecutors from the unit are being reassigned to other roles, with cases now set to be handled by U.S. attorneys' offices nationwide.
The move follows the DOJ's controversial decision to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, which led to multiple resignations from the unit.
Critics argue the decision undermines oversight of public officials and raises concerns about potential partisan motivations in corruption investigations.
The downsizing aligns with broader changes in DOJ oversight, including reduced enforcement of anti-bribery laws and a diminished focus on election crimes.