Today, the DOJ plopped a proposed regulation on the Federal Register that would authorize Attorney General Pam Bondi to block any state bar ethics investigation into current and former DOJ lawyers while the department conducts its own internal review. If state bar authorities refuse the AG’s “request” to pause an investigation, the rule allows the DOJ to “take appropriate action to prevent the bar disciplinary authorities from interfering with the Attorney General’s review of the allegations.”

Video explaining it: youtube

Call to action (from the video description): Today Pam Bondi announced a new rule that would stop state bar associations from investigating misconduct by lawyers. We can work to stop this rule by writing comments stating our objections. To make your voice heard, go to the comment portal here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOJ-OAG-2026-0001-0001 and click the “comment” box.

SAMPLE OBJECTION you can model and adapt: I am a concerned citizen who cares deeply about preserving the rule of law and upholding the integrity of our justice system. I strongly oppose this new rule because it will diminish accountability for misconduct by government lawyers. I believe that lawyers representing the United States should be held to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. They must be subject to oversight by independent authorities like state bar associations; the Justice Department cannot be trusted to police itself. This proposed rule would allow the Attorney General to interfere with independent state bar investigations. That will greatly harm the integrity of our justice system and allow misconduct to go unpunished.