A conservative advocacy group's letter to incoming Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi has sparked controversy over Department of Justice staffing.
According to Fox News, the American Accountability Foundation (AAF) has demanded the removal of several DOJ employees from the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division, citing their alleged connections to progressive causes and George Soros-linked organizations.
The AAF, through its president Thomas Jones, specifically targeted five DOJ employees in their letter, which was also addressed to Harmett Dhillon, President-elect Trump's nominee for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. The organization claims these employees have demonstrated ideological biases that could interfere with implementing Trump's agenda, particularly in matters of election integrity and civil service neutrality.
The letter from AAF singles out DOJ employee Janie Sitton for her stance on transgender issues and political donations. In 2000, while employed at the DOJ, Sitton authored an article advocating for "transgender jurisprudence" and challenged traditional gender assignment practices for newborns.
Dana Paikowsky, another targeted employee, faces criticism for her professional history with organizations linked to George Soros, including the Open Society Foundations. Her work promoting prisoner voting rights and connections to the Campaign Legal Center has drawn particular attention from the conservative group.
Catherine Meza's background as chief counsel for the NAACP and her positions on gun control and voter intimidation during the 2020 election have also come under fire. The group claims her previous stances may conflict with the incoming administration's priorities.
AAF president Thomas Jones expressed his concerns about the DOJ employees in the letter, stating:
These people are woke radical leftists and donors who have no place in the Department of Justice. In order to restore the American people's trust in election integrity and a neutral civil service, they must be fired and replaced with America-first attorneys who will execute on the agenda the American People voted for in November.
The group's criticism extends to John "Bert" Russ IV, who filed a 2021 complaint challenging Georgia's election integrity measures. The complaint alleged racial discrimination in the state's voter identification requirements and restrictions on absentee ballots and polling place activities.
This initiative mirrors AAF's recent efforts regarding military leadership, where they compiled a similar list of officers they want removed should Pete Hegseth be confirmed as Pentagon chief. The organization has promised to identify more "problematic staff" in future communications.
The DOJ's Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division has not yet responded to requests for comment on the AAF's demands. The targeted employees have also not issued public statements regarding their inclusion on the list.
This development comes as Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General, prepares to potentially take the helm at the Justice Department. The transition period has highlighted growing tensions between conservative groups and career civil servants within federal agencies.
The American Accountability Foundation has called for sweeping changes in DOJ staffing, targeting employees they claim have connections to progressive causes and donors. Their letter to incoming Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi specifically names five DOJ employees from the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division who they believe should be removed from their positions.
These demands reflect ongoing tensions between conservative groups and career civil servants, particularly in departments handling election integrity and civil rights issues. As the transition period continues, the resolution of these staffing disputes will likely shape the implementation of the incoming administration's justice policies.
