An investigation by the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General has revealed misconduct by former senior officials.
According to the New York Post, three ex-DOJ leaders were found leaking sensitive information tied to ongoing cases, influencing media coverage ahead of a vote.
The DOJ's Internal Watchdog started investigating after allegations surfaced about improper disclosures influencing public opinion. The Inspector General, Michael Horowitz, who has held the position since 2012, led the detailed probe.
The focus was on non-public information related to active DOJ investigations that was leaked, resulting in two significant news articles. These pieces appeared just days before a critical election, casting a shadow over the department's impartiality. In an unprecedented step, the leaked details were also shared on a social media platform controlled by the DOJ, violating additional internal policies.
Michael Horowitz's team was prompted to act following complaints suggesting that the leaks were politically motivated. This included a serious breach involving the use of a DOJ social media account to further spread the leaked information.
One of the three former officials specifically broke the department’s Social Media Policy by posting links to investigative news articles on the DOJ platform. None of the former officials cooperated with the OIG's investigation, declining or ignoring interview requests. The DOJ OIG officially concluded the investigation, reporting their findings to senior department officials for further action.
Post-investigation actions include the DOJ OIG's report being handed over to various departments. The Office of the Deputy Attorney General received the report to consider the necessary disciplinary measures against the involved former officials.
Given that the misconduct implicated attorneys, the OIG also forwarded the report to the Professional Misconduct Review Unit. The US Office of Special Counsel was looped in to explore potential violations of the Hatch Act, which restricts political campaign activities by federal employees. The specific cases that were leaked have not been disclosed, adding a layer of mystery and concern regarding the breadth and impact of the leaked information.
The leaks notably affected public perception and trust, coming as they did just before electoral voting. Senator Chuck Grassley, addressing the issue, expressed concerns in letters to DOJ and FBI leadership demanding transparency and accountability.
Senator Grassley’s concerns also took into account previous leaks about alleged foreign financial support in political campaigns. This highlights a recurrent theme of unauthorized disclosures within high-stakes political contexts.
This pattern of leaks, including those tied to the investigation of alleged financial help from Egypt’s leader to Donald Trump's campaign, stirred much political debate and media analysis, complicating the political landscape during the elections.
These findings highlight ongoing challenges within the DOJ relating to the handling of sensitive information and adherence to internal policies. The repercussions of these leaks are significant, affecting public trust and the integrity of election processes.
This incident has prompted calls for stricter enforcement of confidentiality and media contact policies at the DOJ. The department's ability to manage and secure sensitive information remains under scrutiny. As the DOJ and other agencies review their policies, the media and the public alike wait for clear outcomes and assurances that such breaches will be prevented in the future.
The DOJ's Inspector General's report has exposed significant policy violations by former officials who leaked crucial investigation details to the media, used official social media to distribute these articles, and did not cooperate with the investigation. Their actions have prompted a series of referrals for further action and raised serious questions about policy enforcement and political impartiality within the department.