Latest news with #publicconfidence
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Schiff, Democrats demand rationale on Bondi firing of ethics attorney
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) asked Attorney General Pam Bondi for her rationale in firing the Justice Department's top ethics attorney, asking for details on who will provide ethics guidance to the department. Bondi fired Joseph Tirrell, director of the Departmental Ethics Office, on Friday after more than 20 years at the Justice Department and the FBI. The firing of Tirrell marks the removal of one of the last remaining career ethics leaders in the department. 'This latest dismissal of a career ethics official continues the Department's systematic dismantling of its internal ethics safeguards under your watch, which further undermines public confidence and congressional trust in the Department and its senior leadership,' Schiff wrote in a letter joined by Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Alex Padilla (Calif.) and Peter Welch (Vt.). Ethical matters are of top concern to Democrats given Bondi and other top Justice Department officials' background serving as part of President Trump's private legal team. Schiff noted that in confirmation hearings, Bondi and other top officials said they would rely on career ethics officials for guidance on matters where they may have a conflict of interest. 'You also stated in your own written responses to the Committee that you would 'consult with the appropriate officials at the Department of Justice, including career ethics officials, regarding any matters that raise conflict of interest concerns prior to making any decisions,' the lawmakers wrote. 'However, your removal of remaining career ethics officials renders these commitments meaningless and leaves the Department without the institutional expertise necessary to provide rigorous, impartial ethical guidance.' Shortly after Trump took office, Brad Weinsheimer, another top ethics official, resigned after he was reassigned to a new working group focused on cracking down on sanctuary cities. Jeffrey Ragsdale, the head of the Office of Professional Responsibility, which reviews the conduct of attorneys in the department, was fired in March. 'The dismissal of a career official who has dedicated his professional career to public service without explanation sends a chilling message to the entire federal workforce about the value this administration places on institutional knowledge and ethics expertise,' Schiff wrote. 'You subsequently transferred these responsibilities, traditionally assigned to senior career DOJ officials, to inexperienced political appointees.' DOJ did not respond to request for comment. In a post on LinkedIn titled 'Fired from DOJ without cause,' Tirrell attached his termination notice signed by Bondi, which like others fired, cites only the article of the Constitution establishing the presidency as the authority for doing so. The letter to Bondi asks for the 'specific legal justification' for firing Tirrell, who will now have responsibility for providing ethics guidance, and how she 'reconcile[s]' her pledge to seek outside ethics advice with the firing of Tirrell and others in similar roles. 'The American people deserve confidence that ethics determinations are made by experienced career officials based on established precedent and legal principles, not by politically-motivated appointees who lack the necessary expertise or independence,' the lawmakers wrote. 'The removals of Mr. Tirrell and other career ethics DOJ officials create a dangerous vacuum in ethics expertise at a time when the Department and its officials face unprecedented ethical challenges.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Malay Mail
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Rafizi: AGC statement confirms concerns over judicial appointments, calls for royal commission
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli today said the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has inadvertently confirmed key concerns raised by nine PKR MPs regarding recent judicial appointments, adding that the matter now warrants a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI). In a statement, Rafizi said the AGC's response to a press conference by the PKR lawmakers yesterday appeared to validate claims of procedural lapses and unresolved allegations involving a Federal Court judge. 'The AGC's own statement confirms three things: that there were delays in appointments, that some Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) nominees were not acted upon, and that a JAC meeting was convened without the required 10-day notice,' he said. He added that the AGC also acknowledged that a meeting of the JAC had discussed allegations that a Federal Court judge had tried to influence case decisions and reassign judges. 'While the AGC believes these issues are not serious enough to plunge the judiciary into crisis, that's exactly what we're trying to prevent,' Rafizi said. 'This isn't about legality alone — it's about public confidence in the judiciary's independence.' The Pandan MP argued that while the prime minister holds constitutional authority over judicial appointments, delays in filling vacancies from the High Court to the Federal Court have fuelled speculation that the executive may be trying to influence the process. 'If the AGC itself says the JAC meeting discussed claims of interference, how can it also dismiss those claims as premature or speculative?' Rafizi said. He urged the government to take the lead in resolving the matter decisively, especially as criticisms mount from the opposition. 'We're not doing this to embarrass the government,' he said. 'We're trying to protect it — and the integrity of our judiciary.' Rafizi said only a Royal Commission of Inquiry could independently determine whether the allegations were credible, and whether judicial independence had been compromised. He added that the government should seriously consider the proposal to avoid further erosion of public trust and unnecessary political attacks. 'Judicial integrity isn't just about following procedures. It must be seen, felt and believed by the people,' he said.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- BBC News
Cases against Jersey Police staff lowest in a decade
The number of cases made against Jersey police officers has dropped to its lowest in a decade, according to the island's police Jersey Police Complaints Authority (JPCA) said there were nine new cases in 2024 compared with 12 the previous year and the highest in the past decade of 35 in 2014.A "complaint" is an individual allegation raised by a member of the public, compared with a "case", which is when a complaint is escalated and then comes under the supervision of the JPCA said in its annual report there were 56 complaints registered in 2024, with 44% resolved informally. This compared with 59 in 2023, 64 in 2022, 55 in 2021 and 80 in complaints in 2024 were from people who thought they had been harassed or threatened by police staff, with one complaint reporting serious injury, said the authority. No complaints were related to honorary police officers. JPCA chairman Chris Stephenson, who was appointed to the role in 2024, said the report aimed to instil belief in the system."Our primary function is to secure public confidence in policing and the complaints procedure by ensuring the police are accountable for their actions and lessons are learnt," he Stephenson said the authority would be transitioning into the Jersey Police Complaints Commission later this said the change would allow it to make recommendations and request information from the police force.
Bloomberg
09-06-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
RFK Jr. Removes All Members of CDC Panel Advising on Vaccines
The Department of Health and Human Services is retiring the 17 members of a committee of government vaccine advisers, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday. 'A clean sweep is needed to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science,' Kennedy said in an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal.
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Halal certs of two 5-star hotels in Melaka revoked over ‘alcohol parties'
State religious affairs executive councillor Rahmad Mariman said the two five-star hotels admitted to organising the event. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Melaka Islamic religious department has revoked the halal certification of two five-star hotels in the state for hosting 'alcohol parties' two weeks ago. State religious affairs executive councillor Rahmad Mariman said a raid found that kitchen equipment meant only for the preparation of halal food had been used during the events, Sinar Harian reported. '(The revocation of their halal certification) is in accordance with Clause 32(3)(a)(ii) of the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (Domestic) 2020,' he was quoted as saying. Rahmad said the raid, conducted following complaints from the public, confirmed that the parties had taken place at the hotels. The hotels, which have been halal-certified for the past five years, also admitted to organising the event. He said the two hotels may apply for halal certification again within three months, but this would be subject to their compliance with the set requirements. 'If we are satisfied, the certificate may be reinstated. We hope this firm action will boost public confidence in halal-certified premises in Melaka,' he said, adding that 30 hotels in Melaka currently have halal certification.
