Economy for Everyone
When the DOJ's "client" becomes the President
guardrails | 2026-02-20 | facebook
DOJ legitimacy depends on serving the Constitution and the public interest, not the personal interests of political power.
If prosecutors start treating a president as the “chief client,” loyalty shifts from law to proximity. That’s not a semantic debate. It’s the difference between justice and power protection.
What’s happening
A report described a DOJ aide reportedly scolding career prosecutors for not treating President Trump as their “chief client.”
That phrase matters.
The Department of Justice does have a client - but it isn’t the president. It’s the United States.
Why it matters (plain language)
This is how systems slide without changing a single statute.
If internal pressure reframes the president as the “client,” the daily question quietly shifts:
- from: “Does this meet the legal standard?”
- to: “Does this align with the president’s interests?”
Proximity to power is not a legal standard.
And DOJ independence isn’t a vibe. It’s a guardrail that keeps criminal law from becoming a personal defense tool.
What good looks like
- Prosecutors who follow evidence and law, even when it’s inconvenient to power
- Clear separation between political leadership and case decisions
- A culture where the oath to the Constitution isn’t rhetorical - it’s operational
One small action
Call or write your reps and say one sentence:
“I support a DOJ that serves the Constitution, not any individual.”
No outrage. No memes. Just process.
Receipts
- Bloomberg Law: “In Your Face: DOJ Aide Rides Prosecutors for ‘Chief Client’ Trump” (link from the original post)