Judiciary Hearing - Stone Case & Antitrust - Politics Does Not Belong in DOJ

This is one of the saddest hearings I have heard in a long time - "special treatment" clearly entered into decisions at the Department of Justice.  We heard a member of congress tapping on the table to interfere with our ability to hear what the speaker was saying. But despite this conduct by a member of the House, we eventually did get to hear from civil servant witnesses - who risked their careers to come forward with important information concerning improper influence being used in the DOJ.  

Two AUSAs testified to influence beyond the merits being considered in matters in the DOJ. And it is not limited to just one area - testimony is that it happened with the Stone case, and happened in Antitrust.  Politics did enter into DOJ years back.  For example, there was an investigation in June 2008 of allegations of politicized hiring in the Department of Justice Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program here.  But one would have hoped that lessons would have been learned from this past conduct.  It is more disturbing to hear that Presidential tweets are factoring into conduct at the DOJ.

Thank you John Elias and Aaron Zelinsky for coming forward - "the truth still matters." 

(esp)