Emil Bove: Worst Person in the World

I wrote this post before Manhattan’s U.S. attorney on Thursday afternoon resigned rather than obey an order from a top Justice Department official—-Emil Bove—-to drop the corruption case against New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams. I mean, really, I try to be cynical, but it’s just so hard to keep up.

• Former Congressman David Jolly calls Bove a “traitor,” noting that he has “switched sides” to serve Trump’s political interests.

• NBC Justice Reporter Ryan Riley describes internal anger within the DOJ and FBI, with agents feeling betrayed by Bove’s reversal.

Background

The New York FBI field office has a reputation for political divisions, with some agents leaning conservative. This became evident in 2016 when leaks reportedly influenced the reopening of the Clinton email investigation. Former FBI Director James Comey cited concerns about these leaks, and Rudy Giuliani claimed inside sources, fueling speculation that some agents worked against Clinton’s campaign. While not all agents fit this narrative, the office remains seen as more politically charged than other FBI branches, particularly by conservatives who view it as a counterbalance to perceived liberal leadership in Washington, D.C.
(nytimes.com) (oig.justice.gov) (thedailybeast.com) (cnn.com)

Emil Bove, Assistant U.S. Attorney

Emil Bove is the Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General under President Trump. A New York native, he studied public policy and economics at SUNY Albany before earning his law degree from Georgetown in 2008. He clerked for federal judges, worked at Sullivan & Cromwell, and joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in 2012.

While serving there as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the SDNY, Bove played a role in overseeing prosecutions related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and advocated for his office to take a more substantial role in these investigations. (wsj.com)

Trump's Defense Team

In 2022, Emil Bove joined Blanche Law, a firm founded by Todd Blanche, and in September 2023, he became part of Donald Trump’s legal team, bringing his national security and prosecutorial expertise to Trump's criminal defense, including cases led by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and special counsel Jack Smith. (politico.com)

At the DOJ

Following Trump's re-election in 2024, Bove was appointed Acting Deputy Attorney General. He has since directed federal prosecutors to consider charges against state and local officials who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and overseen significant personnel changes within the FBI, including the dismissal of senior officials and a review of staff involved in the January 6 investigations. (wsj.com)

Bove's actions have drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters commend his assertive leadership, while critics warn of potential politicization of the Justice Department. (spytalk.co)

Bove’s Purge?

As Acting Deputy Attorney General, Bove has launched a review of FBI personnel involved in the January 6 investigations, requesting their names, titles, and offices to assess their conduct—a move that has raised concerns about mass firings. (theguardian.com)

He has stated that agents who acted ethically are not at risk, but those deemed to have acted with "corrupt or partisan intent" could face disciplinary action, leading to tensions within the FBI. (apnews.com)

Additionally, he has ordered the termination of approximately 24 Justice Department prosecutors involved in the January 6 investigations. (theguardian.com)

These actions reinforce Bove's significant role in reshaping the Justice Department’s approach to personnel oversight.

Legacy

MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace has said, “The person causing the most historic damage to the DOJ is now firing people for doing exactly what he once did.”