The administration trotting out Justice Department officials to give an update on its anti-gang efforts could be the grounds down the road for someone to claim political prosecution as a defense, Politico reports.
That's one possible consequence of blurring the lines between the White House and federal law enforcement.
"I do think the venue makes a difference," William Yeomans, who worked at the Justice Department from 1978 to 2005, told Politico. "We are very sensitive about politicizing prosecutions in our democracy. Under rule of law, the worst thing that can happen is that people get prosecuted for political reasons."
Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Rob Hur and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting director Thomas Homan on Thursday gave an update in the White House briefing room on DOJ's continued prosecution of MS-13 gangs around the country, replete with images — including enough of one face that could be identifiable, Politico reports.
Give the update from the Justice Department or Homeland Security — not the White House.
"This is going to give the idea to someone or another that the White House is affecting enforcement in cases which is absolutely beyond the pale and wrong for them to do," former Justice Department spokeswoman Emily Pierce told Politico.
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