{"id":863,"date":"2026-03-02T13:21:29","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T13:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/02\/let-citizens-elect-u-s-attorney-general-to-deweaponize-the-department-of-justice-letters\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T13:21:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T13:21:29","slug":"let-citizens-elect-u-s-attorney-general-to-deweaponize-the-department-of-justice-letters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/02\/let-citizens-elect-u-s-attorney-general-to-deweaponize-the-department-of-justice-letters\/","title":{"rendered":"Let citizens elect U.S. attorney general to deweaponize the Department of Justice (Letters)"},"content":{"rendered":"
Re: “How to safeguard the DOJ against the next Trump,” Feb. 22 commentary<\/p>\n
I would advocate a more concrete\u00a0way of safeguarding the Department of Justice than even Barbara McQuade suggests. Amendments to the Constitution are harder for the Supreme Court to overturn than legislation.<\/p>\n
Here are some proposed constitutional amendments:<\/p>\n
Separately elect the Attorney General\u00a0by a majority of the popular vote\u00a0(runoff if necessary)\u00a0in the midterm of the presidency.\u00a0This would codify the separation of\u00a0the DOJ from the executive branch. The AG\u2019s responsibilities should include\u00a0military prosecutions, and the\u00a0AG should have jurisdiction over all JAG officers who\u00a0will be, for practical\u00a0purposes, civilians. This will prevent the execution of illegal orders of the president to the Department of Defense.\u00a0Passage should prevent the weaponization of the DOJ. The same impeachment and removal procedure would apply to the AG as to the president.<\/p>\n
Please note that presently, state AGs are separately elected by voters in 43 of the 50 states.<\/p>\n
Given the above, there is a possibility that a corrupt AG can be elected. To lessen that possibility, the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court must be overturned. I suggest:\u00a0\u201cReasonable election campaign spending limits may be imposed by the states in compliance with Amendment XIV.\u201d\u00a0 This will lessen the possibility of a bought\u00a0election.<\/p>\n