- AG Pam Bondi announced an investigation into Nancy Pelosi for allegedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement in California.
- DOJ sent preservation letters to Pelosi, Jenkins, and others, framing local resistance as impeding federal agents and potentially criminal.
- Actions fit a broader pattern of DOJ targeting Trump critics amid mass deportation campaign, National Guard deployments, and partisan backlash.
WASHINGTON—Attorney General Pam Bondi ignited a fresh clash with Democratic leaders Thursday, vowing to investigate former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for allegedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement in California, the latest escalation in President Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign.
Bondi’s announcement, delivered during an interview on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime, zeroed in on Pelosi’s recent calls for local authorities to hold ICE agents accountable under state law.
“They’re out there working nonstop, as you’re showing right now, during a shutdown.
These people are out there working to keep Californians safe, yet you’ve got Pelosi out there saying to obstruct their investigation, you can’t do it, and we’re going to investigate her now as well as that D.A. And Pritzker is on the list too, Jesse,” Bondi said, referencing San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
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The probe follows a joint statement Pelosi issued Wednesday with Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif., decrying reports of impending ICE raids in the Bay Area.
“Reports of a planned mass immigration raid in the Bay Area are an appalling abuse of law enforcement power,” the statement said.
It further asserted that federal agents could face local arrest if they violate California statutes, noting, “If ICE agents act beyond their legal authority, and violate state law in doing so, they can be prosecuted.”
Bondi framed the Democratic stance as a direct threat to federal officers.
“If they think I won’t, they have not met me, because we will charge them if they are violating the law. We will protect our federal agents,” she told host Jesse Watters.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche followed up with preservation letters to Pelosi and Jenkins, demanding they retain all related records.
As Bondi recounted, the letters instructed recipients to “preserve your emails, preserve everything you have on this topic.
Because if you are telling people to arrest our ICE officers, our federal agents, you cannot do that. You are impeding an investigation, and we will charge them.”
This is the Largest Mass Deportation in American History
This confrontation caps weeks of mounting tensions over Trump’s “largest mass deportation in American history,” which has sparked protests and legal pushback in sanctuary cities.
In Chicago, where federal agents clashed with demonstrators during raids, Trump federalized 300 Illinois National Guard troops over Pritzker’s objections.
The White House cited “ongoing violent riots and lawlessness” that local leaders “refused to quell,” authorizing the guardsmen “to protect federal officers and assets.”
Pritzker decried the move as a “manufactured performance” and “acts of aggression,” vowing, “I will not call up our National Guard to further Trump’s acts of aggression against our people.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed the resistance, warning that troops would “spread fear, escalate conflict, and undermine the trust that keeps communities safe.”
The deployment, now including Texas National Guard reinforcements, comes amid a government shutdown now in its 23rd day, triggered by disputes over immigration funding.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blasted a Republican funding proposal as “more like a political ploy to pick and choose, giving Donald Trump discretion, which employees should be compensated and which employees should not be compensated.”
Pelosi’s comments drew support from Jenkins, who told reporters her office stands ready to prosecute federal agents for “clear, excessive use of force.”
“If I believe, and have conviction, that we can meet our burden and charges are appropriate, that I won’t hesitate to do so,” Jenkins said.
Pattern of DOJ Targeting Trump Critics
Bondi extended her scrutiny to a new initiative by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the “ICE Accountability Project,” aimed at documenting alleged agent misconduct.
“You cannot disclose the identity of a federal agent—where they live, anything that could harm them,” Bondi cautioned, confirming a preservation letter to Lightfoot as well.
The Pelosi investigation aligns with a broader DOJ pattern targeting Trump’s critics, accelerated by his September 20 Truth Social post to Bondi:
“Pam: We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
The message, naming Comey, New York AG Letitia James, and Sen. Adam Schiff, was intended as a private directive but posted publicly.
Comey, fired by Trump in 2017 amid the Russia probe, was indicted September 26 on charges of lying to Congress and obstruction.
He pleaded not guilty October 8, with his lawyer entering the plea. In a post-indictment video, Comey said, “Let’s have a trial.”
His team has since moved to dismiss, citing “vindictive prosecution” and arguing, “The indictment in this case arises from multiple glaring constitutional violations and an egregious abuse of power by the federal government.”
James, who secured a civil fraud judgment against Trump’s empire (later reduced), was indicted October 9 for bank fraud and false statements tied to a Virginia mortgage.
She pleaded not guilty October 24, calling the charges “baseless” and “nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.”
Her attorneys plan to challenge the appointment of interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, a Trump ally, as “unlawful.”
Schiff, who led Trump’s first impeachment, faces an ongoing mortgage fraud probe in Maryland but no indictment yet.
Prosecutors there have hesitated, with one official telling superiors the case “was not strong enough to move forward,” though Deputy AG Blanche disputed that assessment.
John Bolton, Trump’s ex-national security adviser whose 2020 memoir branded him “unfit,” was indicted October 16 on 18 counts of mishandling classified information.
He pleaded not guilty October 17, telling the judge, “Not guilty, your honor.”
In a statement, Bolton called it “the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department.”
Bondi Faces Bipartisan Push
These actions faced bipartisan grilling during Bondi’s October 7 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Ranking Member Dick Durbin accused her of “systemically weaponizing” the DOJ, saying, “Our nation’s top law enforcement agency has become a shield for the president and his political allies when they engage in misconduct.”
Bondi fired back on queries about Chicago’s Guard deployment, stating, “I wish you loved Chicago as much as you hate President Trump.”
Underpinning the probes is the Interagency Weaponization Working Group, formed in May per a January executive order to probe past “weaponization” of agencies against Trump.
Reuters identified 39 participants from the White House, ODNI, CIA, DOJ, FBI, DHS, IRS, and FCC.
DNI Tulsi Gabbard confirmed its role, stating, “I stood up this working group to start the important work of interagency coordination under President Trump’s leadership to deliver accountability.”
AG Bondi added, “There is one tier of justice for all Americans.”
Critics, including former national security officials in a Steady State letter, urged Congress to probe the group for potential law violations and domestic spying abuses.
As raids intensify and the shutdown drags on, these battles threaten to fracture federal-state relations further.
Pritzker warned of legal challenges, while Jeffries demanded bipartisan talks, noting Trump’s “radio silent” stance.
For Pelosi, a Trump impeachment architect, the irony stings: her push for accountability now invites federal scrutiny in return.
Also Read: A DOJ Whistleblower Now Makes Revelation That Undermines the Judicial System’s Integrity
