A bombshell report from The New York Times suggests that despite her title, Attorney General Pam Bondi is hardly running the show at the Department of Justice.
According to the Times, Bondi “sees her role as that of a surrogate, a faithful executor and high-volume messenger, compelled to cede ground to empowered players in the West Wing.”
“The decisions are being made at the White House, and then they’re being pushed down to the Department of Justice, which is very, very atypical,” observed DOJ alum Elizabeth Oyer. “It feels like she is just performing a part. She is like an actor, in a way.”
I could read a similar report for almost any cabinet post, or more likely multiple cabinet posts, and I wouldn’t bat an eye. I would almost assume this is happening in most cases to some degree.
Most of these secretaries are picked for their willingness and ability to absorb what passes for tough questions in congressional hearings while the real power like Hobgoblin here make the decisions.