Pam Bondi's Tenure Sparks Nostalgia for Janet Reno's Independent Justice Department

Columnist Dick Polman reflects on how the former Attorney General protected the Justice Department's independence from White House influence.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Columnist Dick Polman reflects on the tenure of former Attorney General Janet Reno, who was known for her independence and unwillingness to take orders from the president who appointed her, in contrast with the current Attorney General Pam Bondi's close ties to the Trump administration. Polman argues that Reno's principled approach, including her willingness to appoint independent counsels to investigate members of the Clinton Cabinet, is sorely missed in the current political climate.

Why it matters

Polman's column highlights the importance of an independent Justice Department that is not beholden to the political interests of the sitting president. He suggests that Reno's example could help the Justice Department reclaim its mission of prosecuting without fear or favor and dispel the "stink of MAGA fascism" under the current administration.

The details

Polman contrasts Reno's tenure as Attorney General under President Clinton with the current Attorney General Pam Bondi's close ties to the Trump administration. He notes that Reno was known for her independence, rarely even speaking with the president who appointed her, and for her willingness to appoint independent counsels to investigate members of Clinton's Cabinet, including Clinton himself. In contrast, Polman portrays Bondi as a "shrieking she-devil" who has turned the Justice Department into a "criminal defense firm for rich and powerful perverts."

  • In 1993, Reno OK'd an FBI raid of a religious cult compound in Waco, Texas, which ended when a fire killed nearly 80 people, including kids.
  • In 2000, Reno ordered federal agents to forcibly remove six-year-old refugee Elián González from his relatives' home in Miami and return the boy to his dad in communist Cuba, a decision that infuriated Republicans.

The players

Janet Reno

The former Attorney General under President Bill Clinton, who was known for her independence and unwillingness to take orders from the president who appointed her.

Pam Bondi

The current Attorney General, who Polman portrays as closely tied to the Trump administration and as having turned the Justice Department into a "criminal defense firm for rich and powerful perverts."

Bill Clinton

The former president who appointed Janet Reno as Attorney General, and who reportedly wanted to dump her at the start of his second term in favor of a more friendly Attorney General.

Kenneth Starr

The special counsel who ran the Whitewater probe, which eventually led to the investigation of the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Henry Cisneros

A Clinton Cabinet member who was targeted by Reno for a special counsel investigation over allegedly making false statements to the FBI about money he'd paid to an ex-girlfriend.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“There is an inherent conflict whenever senior executive branch officials are to be investigated by the [Justice] department and its appointed head, the Attorney General…Public support for our government is predicated on the belief that the government is fair and just.”

— Janet Reno, Attorney General (Congressional testimony)

“how Donald likes his women: cheap, plastic and servile.”

— Steve Schmidt, Former Republican strategist (Unspecified)

What’s next

Polman suggests that if an Attorney General with Reno's moral compass was in charge today, they would not have fired most of the Justice Department's cryptocurrency enforcement team, as Bondi has done.

The takeaway

Polman's column highlights the importance of an independent Justice Department that is not beholden to the political interests of the sitting president, and suggests that Reno's principled approach could help the Justice Department reclaim its mission of prosecuting without fear or favor and dispel the "stink of MAGA fascism" under the current administration.