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Press Release | May 16, 2022

Biden DOJ Is Still Advancing Trump Positions, New Data Shows

2020 Election/TransitionAdministrative LawDepartment of JusticeEthics in Government
Biden DOJ Is Still Advancing Trump Positions, New Data Shows

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hannah Story Brown, storybrown@therevolvingdoorproject.org 

Well over a year after President Biden’s inauguration, his administration continues to defend and advance Trump-era legal positions, according to an updated analysis released by the Revolving Door Project today. RDP’s long-running litigation tracker, documenting court cases in which the Biden administration has inherited and chosen to advance Trump-era legal positions, has been brought up-to-date to include new instances where the legal advocacy of Merrick Garland’s Justice Department on environmental, immigration, education, and other issues runs counter to the administration’s commitments. 

Trump’s Justice Department made a mockery of the law. Its arguments were owed none of the usual deference when Biden took office. Though many Trump-era DOJ appointees and some Trump-era policies have been replaced in the past sixteen months, Biden’s DOJ continues to advance Trump-era legal arguments in a disturbing number of cases.

Revolving Door Project Researcher Hannah Story Brown said: “One third of the way through Biden’s presidency, it’s becoming clear how long a shadow the Biden administration is willing to let Trump-era legal positions cast. Biden and Garland’s adherence to an outdated and often breached norm of consistency between Attorneys General is undermining this administration’s deepest commitments even as Trump’s judicial appointees continue to shred legal norms and sabotage democracy.”  

Access the updated litigation tracker here.

Image: “Attorney General Merrick Garland delivers remarks to DOJ employees” is public domain.

2020 Election/TransitionAdministrative LawDepartment of JusticeEthics in Government

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