Ben Penn

Washington, D.C.

Senior Reporter at Bloomberg Law

Senior reporter, Department of Justice @BLaw | @UMWallaceHouse alum | [email protected]

Articles

Bondi Defends Overhaul of ‘Leaner’ and ‘Better Equipped’ DOJ

4 days ago | news.bloomberglaw.com | Ben Penn

AG promotes proposed cuts to House budget panelBondi accused by Democrats of ‘discourteous’ hearing etiquette Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Trump administration’s proposed slashing of Justice Department funding is a response to Biden-era weaponization of US law enforcement, and will help keep Americans safer. Her testimony before a House appropriations subcommittee on Monday featured testy exchanges with Democratic lawmakers.
Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer Fired by Trump Justice Department (1)

Mar 7, 2025 | news.bloombergtax.com | Suzanne Monyak |Ben Penn

The head of the Justice Department’s pardon office said she’s been fired, becoming the latest career official caught up in a sweeping personnel shake-up at the agency in the new Trump administration. Elizabeth “Liz” Oyer announced her dismissal Friday on LinkedIn where she shared a photo of a removal notice signed by newly installed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “I’m sad to share that I was fired today from the job I have poured my heart and soul into for the last three years.
Emil Bove Faces DOJ Ethics Complaint Over Mayor Adams Dismissal

Mar 3, 2025 | news.bloomberglaw.com | Ben Penn

Emil Bove, attorney for Donald Trump, at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.
Trump Picks for DOJ No. 2 and Antitrust Head Advance in Senate

Feb 27, 2025 | news.bloomberglaw.com | Ben Penn |Justin Wise

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced President Donald Trump’s picks to be second-in-command at the Justice Department and head of the antitrust division, setting them both up for expected confirmation. The majority-Republican panel voted along party lines Thursday to send Todd Blanche, Trump’s pick to be deputy attorney general, to the Senate floor. The committee voted 20-2 to advance Gail Slater, Trump’s picked to lead the antitrust division, with Sens.
DOJ Seeks Rapid Lawyer Transfers to Defend Trump Agenda in Court

Feb 27, 2025 | news.bloomberglaw.com | Ben Penn

The Justice Department is pressing its lawyers to take immediate transfers to the division getting deluged defending Trump policies from lawsuits. DOJ tax and civil rights attorneys are among those receiving messages from their bosses in recent days encouraging them to apply for temporary details to the civil division units responsible for protecting the president’s agenda, according to emails reviewed by Bloomberg Law.
Warner, Who Said CIA Stole Election, Now Leads DOJ Civil Rights

Feb 24, 2025 | news.bloomberglaw.com | Ben Penn

The Justice Department has inserted Mac Warner, who last year espoused false claims that the CIA stole Trump’s 2020 presidential victory with the FBI’s help, to run the civil rights division, replacing an ousted career official who’s started reporting to the new sanctuary cities office. Warner, West Virginia’s former secretary of state, embraced conspiracy theories about the 2020 election while running in the state’s GOP gubernatorial primary.
Justice Department Support Group Gets Big Response Amid Upheaval

Feb 24, 2025 | news.bloomberglaw.com | Suzanne Monyak |Ben Penn

Justice Department veteran Stacey Young has fielded messages from hundreds of current and former department employees in the three weeks since she launched an organization to support them. “It’s been completely insane,” Young said. “I’ve been getting four hours of sleep, working around the clock.”The group, called Justice Connection, was launched as mass layoffs and leadership shakeups have rocked the federal workforce since President Donald Trump took office.
DOJ Tells All Employees Not to respond to OPM Job Details Email

Feb 24, 2025 | news.bloomberglaw.com | Ben Penn

The Justice Department’s top administrative official has instructed all employees they don’t need to respond to the Elon Musk-directed email demanding they describe their job accomplishments, reversing prior guidance. “Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the Department’s work, DOJ employees do not need to respond to the email from OPM,” Jolene Ann Lauria wrote to all department leaders Monday in a message reviewed by Bloomberg Law.
DOJ Chiefs Tell Staff Not to Reply to Musk Job Details Order

Feb 23, 2025 | msn.com | Ben Penn

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DOJ heads tell staff not to reply to Musk demand for job details

Feb 23, 2025 | thedailynewsonline.com | Ben Penn

WASHINGTON — Justice Department supervisors are directing employees to hold off on replying to the federal government-wide directive to describe recent job achievements — an Elon Musk order that DOJ staff worry will trigger ethics violations. At least five DOJ office leaders quickly responded to the HR email — the latest mandate from Musk’s government efficiency team — by telling their staff not to detail their work until they receive further clarity, said five people familiar with the situation.