'Bad optics every day': Lawyer slams Trump DOJ for 'turning the clock back to mob rule'

A high-profile Washington, D.C. lawyer slammed the Trump administration's Department of Justice on Tuesday.

CNN released footage showing Ed Martin, a controversial Trump appointee to the DOJ, taking pictures outside of New York Attorney General Letitia James' home. Abbe Lowell, who currently represents James in a mortgage fraud lawsuit the DOJ filed against her, joined CNN's Brianna Keilar on "The Source" Tuesday night to discuss the department's actions.

"This Justice Department creates new, bad optics every day," Lowell said.

On Sunday, Martin joined Fox News host Maria Bartiromo and said that he would play out some of his investigations in the court of public opinion. Lowell said that the move is "extraordinary."

"If we're at the point at which prosecutors, be they federal or state, believe their job is to try people in the court of public opinion, then we're basically turning the clock back to mob rule," Lowell said.

Lawell said these, and other actions, suggest Martin has no interest in being an "ethical lawyer, or someone who follows the law."

For instance, Lowell pointed out that Martin has not asked him for information about the case against James since he was appointed. Lowell also noted that Martin asked James to resign twice in his initial correspondence. Martin said in the letter that he would see James' resignation as an "act of good faith."

"If people needed better evidence that this is not about what she did, but is about what President Trump has ordered the Justice Department to do, nothing better than his letter demanding those two things," Lowell said.

Watch the entire clip below or by clicking here.