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By Shane Croucher and Sophie Clark
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US Attorney General Pam Bondi has been accused of "serious professional misconduct" in an ethics complaint filed with the Florida Bar, signed by 70 people.
The signatories include liberal and moderate-leaning law professors, attorneys, and retired chief justices of the Florida Supreme Court. They accused Bondi of misconduct that "threatens the rule of law and the administration of justice."
Department of Justice Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle told Newsweek: "The Florida Bar has twice rejected performative attempts by these out-of-state lawyers to weaponize the bar complaint process against AG Bondi. This third vexatious attempt will fail to do anything other than prove that the signatories have less intelligence —and independent thoughts — than sheep."
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John T. Montgomery, a board member of Lawyers Defending American Democracy (LDAD), told Newsweek: ""Vexatious" means "without good cause." The DOJ spokesperson either had not read the meticulously researched 23-page complaint supported by leading ethics professors at law schools across the country or she was simply using pejorative language to deflect attention and dissuade others from reviewing the complaint."
"The failure of our chief law enforcement officer to adhere to her ethical obligations as a lawyer is a serious matter that deserves a substantive response."
Why It Matters
A key policy component of Project 2025, which President Donald Trump had previously ruled out during his campaign, is utilizing the DOJ to pursue the president's goals.
Since taking office, Trump and Bondi have utilized the DOJ to launch investigations into the president's opponents, strike deals with prominent law firms whose executives faced threatened access, and pardon supporters of the administration.
What To Know
The complaint, filed by Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF), Lawyers Defending American Democracy (LDAD), Lawyers for the Rule of Law, and other prominent legal scholars, centers on a claim that Bondi "has sought to compel Department of Justice lawyers to violate their ethical obligations under the guise of 'zealous advocacy.'"
It relates to a February 5 memo that directed her federal agency's lawyers to "zealously pursue the President's political objectives" or face disciplinary action, including potential termination.
They say this violates the rules of the Florida Bar, of which Bondi is a member. She is a former Florida attorney general.
The complaint highlights "three glaring examples of Department lawyers being terminated or forced to resign as a result of demands that they act unethically issued by Ms. Bondi or a member of her senior management."
"We count on lawyers to conduct themselves ethically at all times. Justice Department lawyers have a higher obligation," the complaint says.
"Ms. Bondi has launched a concerted effort to override ethical obligations whenever they stand in the way of achieving her and her superior's political goals.
"This conduct is deeply prejudicial to the rule of law and the administration of justice, as well as a violation of her own ethical obligations. We urge The Florida Bar to investigate the allegations made here and to take appropriate action."
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The complaint highlights several instances where Bondi's conduct at the DOJ has led to resignations due to ethics concerns and people being forced out for failing to comply with her "zealous advocacy" standards.
For example, the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and almost a dozen other lawyers were either forced to resign or chose to leave their posts over the DOJ's handling of the Eric Adams corruption case.
Adams, the mayor of New York City, was charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery in 2024. However, Bondi dismissed his federal charges without prejudice, meaning they could be brought back to court at any time by the DOJ.
The lawyers who left the case said that this was a quid pro quo arrangement to pressure Adams into changing New York City's immigration policies. Adams denies this accusation.
Another example cited in the complaint is that of Erez Reuveni, the former acting deputy director of the DOJ's Office of Immigration Litigation. Reuveni is the lawyer who admitted that Kilamr Abrego Garcia should never have been removed from the United States.
Despite, according to the complaint, the court thanking Reuveni for his "candor," he was then placed on administrative leave by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for failing to "follow a directive from your supervisors," "engaging in conduct prejudicial to your client" and not "zealously advocat[ing] on behalf of the United States."
The complaint states: "And the next day, Ms. Bondi appeared on 'Fox News Sunday' and made it clear that Mr. Reuveni's suspension was a direct consequence of her February 5 'zealous advocacy' memorandum."
Ten days later, Reuveni was fired.
The complaint, which is 23 pages long, states several examples of lawyers having to leave their positions due to Bondi's push for "zealous advocacy," which they saw as a direct conflict with the law and with ongoing court cases.
Montgomery told Newsweek: "As we said in the complaint, The Florida Bar should begin by doing its job. It should reverse its recent policy decision not to review or act upon ethics complaints against Ms. Bondi while she is in office.
"This policy is contrary to the intent of Congress when it enacted a statute expressly providing that DOJ lawyers are subject to the ethics laws of the state in which they are admitted to the bar.
"After reversing that policy, the Bar should conduct a thorough investigation, give Ms. Bondi an opportunity to respond, and make a decision whether our complaint is correct that her actions violate the ethical rules governing the conduct of all lawyers, are prejudicial to the administration of justice, and threaten the rule of law.
"The issue of sanctions can be addressed only after a thorough record has been compiled."
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What People Are Saying
Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, in a press release: "Since her first day on the job, Pam Bondi has made clear that she plans to use the Department of Justice for political pursuits, and she has done just that. Especially as the nation's highest ranking legal officer, she must be held to account for her actions that threaten the rule of law and the administration of justice."
Daniel N. Arshack, president of Lawyers for Rule of Law, in a press release: "Without the strict obedience to the rules of ethics that have guided lawyers for over two centuries, the rule of law sinks, and our civilized society goes with it. Our leaders must be held accountable for the abandonment of their oaths and a total lack of ethics. We look to the Disciplinary Committees and the courts to protect the rule of law and our 'civilized life.'"
John T. Montgomery, a board member of Lawyers Defending American Democracy (LDAD), told Newsweek: "The Department of Justice is essential to the administration of justice in this country. DOJ lawyers take an oath to support the Constitution, but Ms. Bondi's memorandum should be understood as a directive to the Department that loyalty to the President must be the principal guide their behavior.
"Ms. Bondi has enforced that guidance, and hundreds of the "best and brightest" lawyers in our government have either departed or been terminated. This purge is contributing to an erosion of the confidence of the courts, as well as the public, that DOJ lawyers can be trusted to conform their behavior to basic ethical standards."
What Happens Next
The complaint urges the Florida Bar to "investigate the allegations made here and to take appropriate action."
Update 6/6/25, 9:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 6/6/25, 1:02 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from DOJ Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle.
Update 6/10/25 5:26 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from John T. Montgomery, a board member of Lawyers Defending American Democracy (LDAD).
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