Conspiracies, hackers and ousted prosecutors: The Trump administration's new hires for the Justice Department
An investigation reveals controversial appointments in the U.S. Justice Department under the Trump administration. Among the recruits: David Michael Levin, a conservative activist who served time for hacking an election system; Eric Neff, who was placed on forced leave due to irregularities; lawyers with complaints of abusive behavior, animal neglect, and shocking statements about George Floyd's death. The department defends the appointments.
An investigation by 'Maariv' reveals a series of controversial appointments in the U.S. Justice Department under the Trump administration. Among the prominent recruits: David Michael Levin, a conservative activist from Florida who served time after hacking the local election system in 2016 and was ordered to pay over $200,000 in damages for misrepresentation and civil conspiracy. Eric Neff, appointed to temporarily lead the sensitive voting section ahead of the midterm elections, was previously placed on forced leave due to irregularities in a fraud case he managed. Attorney David Vandenberg faced complaints of abusive behavior, charges of animal neglect, and a civil lawsuit for intentionally damaging a vehicle in which a mother and her two children were present. Daniel Plickinger was fired from his office in 2020 after writing that George Floyd was 'lucky' to die the way he did. Heading a new unit dealing with the Second Amendment is Barry Arrington, a staunch opponent of the theory of evolution and same-sex marriage. The Justice Department defends the appointments, with a department spokesperson emphasizing the recruits' rich legal experience. Secretary Dillon stated that the department previously recruited from a narrow pool of progressive activists, and now it is hiring lawyers who have managed hundreds of trials and won in the Supreme Court.