{"id":2576088,"date":"2026-03-04T15:00:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-moves-to-block-state-ethics-investigations-against-its-attorneys\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T15:03:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:03:26","slug":"doj-moves-to-block-state-ethics-investigations-against-its-attorneys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-moves-to-block-state-ethics-investigations-against-its-attorneys\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ moves to block state ethics investigations against its attorneys"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-moves-to-block-state-ethics-investigations-against-its-attorneys%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2576088&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Washington Examiner reports that the Justice Department has proposed a rule to shield its federal attorneys from state bar ethics investigations by giving the DOJ the initial review of any ethics allegations against current and former DOJ employees and asking states to pause their own investigations during that review. The policy would empower the DOJ to determine whether to proceed before state disciplinary authorities and include a veiled threat that the department coudl take action to enforce the rule if bar authorities refuse to comply. Attorney General Pam Bondi signed the proposal on February 26, and it will be published in the Federal Register with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-education-department-wants-to-roll-back-effort-to-catalog-teacher-sex-crimes\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Education ... Wants to Roll Back Effort to Catalog Teacher Sex Crimes\">30-day public comment period<\/a> before finalization. critics say the rule could chill vigorous advocacy by government lawyers and undermine the Attorney General\u2019s supervisory authority. The article also <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >references ongoing ethics complaints<\/a> against Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, noting some complaints were declined or not yet opened, highlighting tensions over DOJ ethics scrutiny. Context is provided by broader concerns within the DOJ, including recent resignations of federal prosecutors related to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judiciary-committee-splits-on-controversial-justice-department-nominee\/\" title=\"Judiciary Committee Splits on Controversial ... Nominee\">civil rights investigations<\/a> in Minnesota.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DOJ moves to block state ethics investigations against its attorneys<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2518446\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"167\">Justice Department<\/a> proposed a new rule that blocks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/65-project-targets-over-100-trump-lawyers\/\" title=\"\u201c65 Project\u201d Targets Over 100 Trump Lawyers\">state bar associations<\/a> from investigating federal attorneys as the DOJ appointees face scrutiny over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/inspector-general-closes-ethics-probe-into-elaine-chao-angering-dems\/\" title=\"Inspector General Closes Ethics Probe Into Elaine Chao, Angering Dems\">alleged ethics violations<\/a> while enforcing the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a>&lsquo;s agenda.<\/p>\n<p>The policy proposal, signed by Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11687\">Pam Bondi<\/a> on Feb. 26, essentially grants the department the right to review ethics allegations against its former and current attorneys first before state bar disciplinary authorities conduct their own investigations. During the proposed process, per the policy, the DOJ would ask states to &ldquo;suspend any parallel investigations&rdquo; until its review is completed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4480005\/jared-polis-open-granting-clemency-convicted-colorado-election-clerk-tina-peters\/\">Jared Polis open to granting clemency to convicted Colorado election clerk Tina Peters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4478690\/democratic-states-defend-usps-gun-shipping-ban-doj-declines\/\">Democratic states move to defend USPS gun shipping ban after DOJ declines<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4478653\/doj-will-defend-trump-executive-orders-targeting-law-firms\/\">DOJ reverses course and will defend Trump executive orders targeting law firms<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Notably, the document contains a veiled threat against state bars if they don&rsquo;t comply with such a request.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Should the relevant bar disciplinary authorities refuse the Attorney General&rsquo;s request, the Department shall take appropriate action to enforce this regulation or to prevent the bar disciplinary authorities from interfering with the Attorney General&rsquo;s review of the allegations,&rdquo; the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/aboutblaw.com\/bk49\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/aboutblaw.com\/bk49\">notice of proposed rulemaking<\/a> states.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> contacted the DOJ for comment on what appropriate actions the department could hypothetically take against state bar associations.<\/p>\n<p>The proposal will be published in the Federal Register on Thursday. The regulation will only be finalized after the 30-day public comment period.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This unprecedented weaponization of the State bar complaint process risks chilling the zealous advocacy by Department attorneys on behalf of the United States, its agencies, and its officers,&rdquo; the notice reads. &ldquo;That chilling effect, in turn, would interfere with the broad statutory authority of the Attorney General to manage and supervise Department attorneys.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Many senior DOJ officials, including Bondi and Deputy Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"20883\">Todd Blanche<\/a>, have been hit with ethics-related state bar complaints filed by legal professionals and watchdog groups.<\/p>\n<p>In one notable case against Bondi, more than 70 legal figures filed an ethics complaint that the Florida Bar ultimately declined to accept. The Florida Supreme Court later refused to issue a ruling forcing the bar to open the investigation.<\/p>\n<p>The Legal Accountability Center filed a separate complaint, asking the New York Attorney Grievance Committee to investigate Blanche over multiple ethics allegations. It remains unclear whether the state body opened an investigation into Bondi&rsquo;s top deputy.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4478653\/doj-will-defend-trump-executive-orders-targeting-law-firms\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4478653\/doj-will-defend-trump-executive-orders-targeting-law-firms\/\">DOJ REVERSES COURSE AND WILL DEFEND TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS TARGETING LAW FIRMS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Over the past year, legal experts have raised concerns about the department&rsquo;s treatment of its attorneys in cases where career lawyers may disagree with their leadership.<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Department has recently seen mass resignations of federal prosecutors, especially over the department&rsquo;s handling of federal civil rights investigations into the officer-involved shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"443\">Minnesota<\/a> two months ago.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ seeks to block state ethics probes of its lawyers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2576089,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26015791751654.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4849,7076,75078,36913,75079],"class_list":["post-2576088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-attorneys","tag-doj","tag-ethics-investigations","tag-legal-ethics","tag-state-ethics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26015791751654.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2576088"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576088\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2576092,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576088\/revisions\/2576092"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2576089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2576088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2576088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2576088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}