Among Donald Trump's first actions as president was to fire anyone at the Justice Department that had anything to do with the special counsel's investigations into him. Attorney General Pam Bondi and other government agency heads have also begun the purge of federal employees, and some onlookers believe those left will likely be faced with defending or prosecuting whatever Trump tells them.
The New York Times reported that the group Justice Connection, led by career prosecutor Stacey Young, will provide guidance to those who remain to help those lawyers.
Young, who was forced out last week in the Trump purge, said the group intends to focus on the DOJ for now but hopes to replicate the model for other federal agencies. The goals will be to help the employees with "legal issues, whistle-blowing, leaking to the news media, aiding with digital and physical security and, if they resign, finding jobs in the private sector."
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“The animus coming from the administration is unprecedented and terrifying,” Young said. “Most employees are terrified about the stability of their jobs. They’re worried about being fired or transferred or demoted or demeaned or doxxed. There are far more unanswered questions than answers right now, and the fear and confusion is palpable and may only grow.”
“The president had promised to dismantle the civil service, and they’ve been aggressively pursuing that project in just two weeks,” Young continued. “Right now, DOJ employees are sitting ducks, and many well-meaning people are calling on them to just keep sitting. That’s not going to work. If they’re going to stay, they’re going to need help.”
She said she hopes to raise about $1 million to maintain a staff of about a dozen people, though they may need their own legal or safety budget if Trump begins to see them as a target.
"Justice Connection will fight against the lies by telling the truth — in Congress, online and in the press — about why a safe and just America requires career professionals at DOJ: FBI intelligence analysts, victim advocates, forensic scientists, ATF special agents and civil rights attorneys among them," said Young's prospectus.
Young was shoved out due to her role as president of the Department of Justice Gender Equality Network, likely seen as part of the anti-diversity purge.
