An odd investigation by local attorney

Why is U.S. Attorney Scott Brady of Pittsburgh examining “information” supplied by Rudy Giuliani on Vice President Joe Biden and his family’s activities in Ukraine? (Feb. 12, “Office Here to Review Giuliani’s Info on the Bidens”).

Our own State Department and intelligence communities have discredited the conspiracy theories being pushed by Mr. Giuliani and his indicted conspirators. Mr. Brady will find nothing credible here. So why did Bill Barr ask Mr. Brady to do this? Because President Donald Trump and Attorney General Barr treat the Department of Justice like a bludgeon for their enemies and a get-out-of-jail-free card for their friends.

Over 2,000 former DOJ officials have called for the resignation of Mr. Barr. This is unprecedented in the United States. Mr. Trump knows that he has a victory if he can announce that his political enemy, Joe Biden, is under investigation. Being under investigation, no matter how flimsy the excuse, casts doubt upon a person. Mr. Brady is giving Mr. Trump this gift, on the public dime.

If the U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh doesn’t have anything better to do than investigate already discredited claims, why are we paying his salary? Why should we care that the Department of Justice is being used to go easy on punishment of the president’s friends and punish the president’s enemies? Because it erodes the rule of law.

How free will you — or anyone — feel to criticize the government if the president can order the Department of Justice to investigate you? Sure, you’re innocent, but you will have your boss, coworkers and neighbors wondering if where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Hiring a lawyer to help you may bankrupt you. This is the world we live in now. Some lawyers working for the Justice Department have refused to be a part of this. They have resigned or refused to carry out the orders. They have fealty to the law. But not Mr. Brady. I hope it’s worth it to him.

MOLLY DONOHUE

Oakmont