The Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the Justice Department has been criticized for apparent political bias amongst some of its personnel, who are responsible for overseeing investigations into Trump administration political appointees. The OIG’s mission is to detect and deter fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct within the Department of Justice, and its personnel are non-political employees who do not shift with changes to the executive branch. Inspector General Michael Horowitz was confirmed by the Senate in 2012. However, recent reports suggest that some OIG personnel have partisan bias, which has raised concerns about the impartiality of their investigations.
America First Legal (AFL) has sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the DOJ to investigate the existence of politically motivated employees within the OIG. The FOIA request highlights the importance of ensuring that DOJ personnel fulfill their duties without any actual or perceived political influence or partisan considerations. Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital show that one OIG attorney, Deborah Falk Zerwitz, has donated multiple times to Democrats and Democrat-linked entities since 2007, raising questions about her impartiality in overseeing investigations. Another OIG lawyer, Jennifer Ramella, has also made significant donations to the Democratic PAC ActBlue, further adding to concerns about bias within the OIG.
Christina Monta, a former OIG counsel, has led investigations into high-profile cases such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania’s probe into potential issues with mail-in ballots in 2020. Monta has made contributions to ActBlue and Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s Senate campaign, raising questions about her neutrality in such important investigations. AFL’s FOIA request emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability within the Department of Justice to ensure that those in government with duties to be impartial do not wield their power by targeting political opponents.
Despite the allegations of political bias within the OIG, a spokesperson for the office emphasized that they respect the constitutional rights of their employees and all citizens, in line with the First Amendment, Citizens United, and federal law. The OIG’s work is described as fact-based and objective, as evidenced by their reports on various oversight issues in the past. The spokesperson highlighted the OIG’s rigorous investigation process, which includes providing drafts of reports to relevant agencies and individuals for review, as well as allowing witnesses to provide feedback on their testimony.
The Civil Service Reform Act prohibits the OIG from discriminating against employees based on their political affiliations, ensuring that investigations are conducted impartially and without bias. AFL’s executive director, Gene Hamilton, stated that if the OIG is shown to be a partisan entity rather than a neutral watchdog, it does not deserve to exist. The FOIA request from AFL underscores the importance of maintaining public trust in government institutions by ensuring that investigations are conducted without political or partisan influence. The ongoing scrutiny of the OIG’s personnel and their potential biases highlights the need for transparency and accountability within the Department of Justice to uphold the integrity of the justice system and government operations.
