Standard Practice at DOJ: Lawfare, Intimidation, and Coercion

By Jeff Davidson

Lawfare is impacting society in horrendous ways, many of which ultimately impact your life and your experiences. What is lawfare? Derived from combining the words “law” and “warfare,” it is the employment of legal approaches to delegitimize, damage, or destroy an opposing party or to hinder their ability to employ their own legal rights.

While lawfare has been used among nations seeking to resolve military conflicts, hamper an opponent’s strategies and tactics, or accuse others of serious crimes, here I am only focusing on domestic issues.

The U.S. system of justice has become overtly contentious, straying from the original mission and objective of our legal system. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Justice adopted lawfare tactics en mass during the Obama Administration, under the sordid leadership of Attorney General Eric Holder. Lawfare was employed against individuals whom the DOJ had targeted, to damage or disparage their character, waste their money and time, or triumph over them for public relations purposes.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Early on, one brave soul exposed the lawfare practices at the DOJ. Sidney Powell was accepted into University of North Carolina School of Law at age 19. She earned a Juris Doctor degree and then became the youngest assistant U.S. attorney.

I learned about her in 2014.

Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina, hosted her to discuss her book, Licensed to Lie: Exposing Corruption in the Department of Justice. At the time, it had received 89% five-star ratings, which is darn near impossible for a political book. No matter how accurate and meticulously researched, such books invariably attract numerous naysayers.

Here was an attorney who had delineated the gross and voluminous crimes of Obama and Holder. Plus, she had a keen eye for detail. Unfortunately, the effects of Barack Obama’s vast measures to weaponize federal agencies, the DOJ in particular, are still being felt today.

On Target

Powell eloquently stated the startling facts. Her book was rich in detail, pinpointing exactly how and where Obama’s Department of Justice had gone rogue. She discussed with precision how the DOJ persecuted, coerced, badgered, and prosecuted Americans, time after time. The agency’s conviction rate was 93%, or 14 out of 15 cases. Yet, in countless instances, DOJ lawyers pursuing cases did not have sufficient evidence or even legal grounds.

How did they prevail? Repeatedly, these government attorneys intimidated defendants to confess to “process” crimes, much like what the special prosecutors under Robert Mueller did to many of Donald Trump’s associates. If no real crimes existed, DOJ attorneys, well-versed in lawfare, pushed for prosecution in one way or another, HUNDREDS of times. Conviction represents career bonus points for eager DOJ attorneys.

The cases Powell highlighted were meticulously researched and the book represents a sterling example of scholarship. In all, License to Lie specifically addressed the lawfare and work of Obama and Eric Holder in totally weaponizing the Department of Justice, which every Conservative now knows imperils our nation and plagues us each and every day.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, now head of the DOJ, has raised lawfare to justice-destroying heights. The DOJ has become the chief agency of injustice. Under Garland, Catholics, parents concerned about the education and welfare of their children, peaceful protesters, and legions of others have had their rights violated.

Taking a Hugh Hit

For supporting Trump’s legitimate claims of 2020 election interference, and then having to backtrack on her claims, Ms. Powell has taken a huge hit to her reputation.

I contemplate, however, that she has been silenced via DOJ intimidation.

Bill Barr, appointed by Donald Trump, was then the attorney general. We have learned of late that Barr was utterly corrupt – a swamp creature of the highest order. He sat on the Hunter Biden revelations. He ignored voluminous evidence of worldwide bribes taken by Joe Biden. He covered for Jeffrey Epstein’s clients, and likely lied about Epstein’s demise. He had insider knowledge of the numerous bogus plots against Trump and said and did nothing.

As for Sydney Powell, after that bookstore lecture, I encountered her two more times. It would be hard to find someone who is more dedicated, earnest, forthright, articulate, and ethical. It is entirely plausible that the FBI or DOJ threatened her and she was not able to weather the storm.

We know that both the FBI and DOJ have sought to lay heavy crap on Rudy Giuliani, Matt Gaetz, Don Trump, Jr., Jared Kushner, many of Trump’s advisors, and so many others. Ms. Powell might have been too vulnerable to withstand the assault. I don’t have any insider information, but who knows? Maybe they threatened to kill someone close to her, or to cripple her for life.

This I do know: She did not suddenly come off the rails after a lifetime of dedicated public service. If she had specific information about the fraudulent 2020 election, which she was ready to expose, and I believe she did, she would be an intense focal point of the Leftists at the DOJ, as were other key individuals who had specific knowledge and were muted.

The Department of Injustice

Garland’s DOJ now implements lawfare in virtually everything it does. The agency has no qualms about incarcerating people for indeterminate lengths, staging show trials, bleeding defendants financially dry, and threatening them with jail sentences unless they capitulate. These are perilous times, especially for anyone who is opposed to the Biden Administration or speaks up in ways that the DOJ does not approve.

It is not difficult with the vast databases to undertake intense snooping and other nefarious methods. In record time, the “Department of Injustice” can ruin a person’s reputation, even after a lifetime of accuracy in their work, in their claims, and in how they comport themselves.

The DOJ, particularly under Merrick Garland, can destroy reputations in less than 24 hours, particularly if that person is vulnerable with relatives, children, and so on. They raid homes with a dozen guns drawn when a simple knock on the door would suffice. They label Catholics and parents as domestic terrorists. I would not put it past the Democrats of today to get to anyone they want, in ways that will shake their targets to the core.

The GOP Must Win in 2024 or We’re Doomed

Everything described above should have no place within the U.S. Department of Justice. Lawfare should have no place. Meanwhile, the DOJ fraudulently claims that its mission is to “Uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights.” In actuality, it fails miserably on all three counts.

Claiming independence and impartiality, the agency states, “We work each day to earn the public’s trust by following the facts and the law wherever they may lead, without prejudice or improper influence.” Yes, Hunter Biden will verify that. The DOJ claims, “Our employees value differences in people and in ideas and treat everyone with fairness, dignity, and compassion.” Not exactly, and incarcerated J6 defendants have a differing view.

The only tenable solution to vanquish the runaway DOJ and their insidious practice of lawfare, intimidation, coercion, and perhaps even blackmail, is for a Republican to win the 2024 presidential election, replace Garland, and begin to quickly reverse the serious damage that has been done to our nation.

If Democrats successfully re-cheat their way to victory, may God help us all.
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Jeff Davidson is “The Work-Life Balance Expert®” and the premier thought leader on work-life balance, integration, and harmony. Jeff speaks to organizations that seek to enhance their overall productivity by improving the effectiveness of their people. He is the author of Breathing Space, Simpler Living, Dial it Down, and Everyday Project Management.