Democrats Probe DOJ Moves on Cases Involving Bondi’s Brother (1)

Congressional Democrats are demanding the Justice Department turn over communications and other records on the department’s dismissals and intervention in litigation involving Attorney General Pam Bondi’s brother, citing a “troubling pattern” of DOJ’s involvement in the cases.

DOJ’s intervention in recent Hawaii litigation and dismissal of other cases involving clients of Brad Bondi, co-chair of the investigations and white-collar defense practice at Paul Hastings LLP present “serious concerns” on the department’s impartiality, the Democrats wrote in the letter sent Tuesday to Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The request is the latest effort by Democrats to demand answers from a department they view as overtly politicized and doing favors for President Donald Trump’s allies while prosecuting his perceived foes. DOJ has denied claims of giving special treatment to Brad Bondi’s cases.

The letter, led by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.), also cites the Trump administration’s March 2025 removal of DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility Director Jeffrey Ragsdale, the senior official tasked with overseeing allegations of DOJ attorney misconduct.

“Such a leadership change, particularly during a period in which the Department has taken several unusual actions that appear to benefit Mr. Bondi, underscores the importance of ensuring that DOJ’s internal accountability mechanisms remain fully independent and active,” the lawmakers wrote.

The letter gives DOJ until Jan. 2 to provide all documents related to “any consideration, discussion, or implementation of a recusal or screening arrangement” intended to separate Pam Bondi from any matters involving her brother, as well as details on all DOJ officials involved in actions the department has taken in cases involving Brad Bondi.

The request centers on three cases with outcomes the lawmakers said favored clients of Brad Bondi, including the department’s dismissal of government property theft charges against Carolina Amesty, a former Florida state representative, related to Covid-era small-business loans. The Democrats also noted DOJ’s dismissal of a criminal wire fraud indictment against two St. Louis real estate developers, one of whom was a client of Brad Bondi.

In November, DOJ moved to intervene in a case filed against the state of Hawaii by Cruise Lines International Association over a law setting fees on vessels docking in the state. Brad Bondi is one of the association’s attorneys, making the “abrupt and unexpected intervention” by DOJ just before a scheduled hearing on a motion to dismiss the case concering, the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

DOJ spokesperson Gates McGavick said in an email, “as the Department has repeatedly stated, these decisions were made through proper channels without input from the Attorney General.”

Brad Bondi didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The actions by DOJ in the various cases followed Brad Bondi’s loss in June in his bid for DC bar association president. The race attracted scrutiny over Brad Bondi’s connection to the top Trump administration official, which some bar members feared would result in Pam Bondi interfering with disciplinary proceedings against the president’s allies.