February 5, 2025
Attorney General Pam Bondi signed a memo on February 5, 2025, creating a Weaponization Working Group led by Trump ally Ed Martin that investigated and charged perceived political enemies of the administration — and failed to convict any of them.
Bondi signed the Weaponization Working Group memo on February 5, 2025, hours after being sworn in
The group was led by Ed Martin from the D.C. U.S. Attorney's Office; Martin had spoken at Stop the Steal rallies and represented Jan. 6 defendants
Targets included former FBI Director James Comey, NY AG Letitia James, and Senator Adam Schiff
In November 2025, federal judge Cameron Currie dismissed both the Comey and James indictments, ruling that Lindsey Halligan's appointment violated the Appointments Clause
Grand juries subsequently declined to re-indict either Comey or James
Martin was removed from leading the group by Deputy AG 
Todd Blanche in December 2025
House Democrats accused Martin of using personal encrypted devices with disappearing messages for official DOJ business
Senate Republicans blocked Martin's permanent confirmation as D.C. U.S. Attorney in May 2025
Attorney General
Director, Weaponization Working Group
Interim U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia
Former FBI Director
New York Attorney General
U.S. Senator (D-CA)
Deputy Attorney General
U.S. Senator (R-NC)
research
Read the Appointments Clause and understand how it constrains who can lead federal investigations
The Appointments Clause is one of the Constitution's key mechanisms for ensuring that powerful federal officials answer to the Senate-confirmed chain of command. Understanding it gives citizens a framework for evaluating new investigative units that appear without Senate review.
The Appointments Clause (Article II, Section 2) requires Senate confirmation for principal officers — it was the legal mechanism used to challenge whether the Bondi-Martin working group's targeted prosecutions were lawfully constituted. Read Article II directly at constitution.congress.gov, then read the Appointments Clause annotation that explains which officials require Senate confirmation and which can be appointed by department heads. Understanding this constitutional structure lets citizens evaluate whether executive branch investigative units are operating within their legal authority or outside it.
research
Track DOJ prosecutorial decisions through PACER to monitor politically targeted cases
PACER and CourtListener give citizens direct access to federal court filings. Reading the actual charging documents and judicial responses to DOJ actions is the most direct way to evaluate politically sensitive prosecutions.
Citizens can track DOJ prosecutorial decisions through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) at pacer.gov. PACER charges small per-page fees, but CourtListener.com mirrors many federal filings for free. Search for cases brought by the weaponization working group to read the actual charges, supporting documents, and any judicial rulings on the legitimacy of the investigation. Tracking specific cases — not just political coverage about them — gives citizens concrete evidence for evaluating whether prosecutions are motivated by law enforcement priorities or political retaliation.
research
Understand the Federal Records Act and why official communications must be preserved
Federal records law creates a paper trail for government decisions that citizens can eventually access through FOIA. Understanding what records must be preserved puts citizens in a stronger position to demand accountability through public records requests.
The Federal Records Act requires government officials to preserve all official communications, including those on personal devices. Read the NARA guidance on federal records requirements at archives.gov to understand what the law actually requires and how it is enforced. The Records Act matters in the context of the weaponization working group because any communications about targeting specific individuals for prosecution would be federal records subject to preservation and eventual disclosure. Citizens can file Freedom of Information Act requests through NARA for records of how investigative priorities were set — and track whether the agency complies.