DOJ Guts Its Own Watchdog? Feds May Soon Indict Congress Without Anti-Corruption Firewall | CLRCUT

Federal prosecutors in the United States may soon be allowed to indict members of Congress without approval from the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section (PIN), The Washington Post reports. The proposed overhaul would also remove the need to consult PIN during key stages of investigations, reducing oversight designed to prevent political bias. Critics warn this could lead to politicised prosecutions, as PIN was created post-Watergate to ensure impartiality. The section, now reduced to fewer than five prosecutors, has been repeatedly targeted by the Trump administration. Attorney General Pam Bondi supports decentralising PIN’s authority, arguing it empowers local prosecutors. However, legal experts caution that sidelining PIN undermines institutional knowledge critical to fair enforcement. The Justice Department confirms the changes are under review, but no decision has been finalised. Experts fear the move may erode safeguards against partisan interference in public corruption cases, especially ahead of elections.