Justice Department makes a splash with politically sensitive cases and actions during midterm blitz

The Justice Department has taken several actions this month, including investigating Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and charging two former FBI officials. Critics say the timing is not a coincidence, with a midterm election approaching. The department's actions have largely targeted outspoken critics of President Donald Trump.

The Justice Department has employed unusual maneuvers, bypassing grand juries to file placeholder cases against former FBI Director James Comey and others. A former Justice Department official, David Laufman, has criticized the department's actions as a brazen disregard for norms and protocols. The department claims it is following the facts and the law.

The department's actions have raised questions about its practice of avoiding overt investigative actions against candidates before an election. Attorney General Todd Blanche has defended the department's actions, saying they are not political. The department has initiated multiple inquiries into the president's perceived adversaries, including a Florida-based investigation.