Recent investigations have revealed troubling actions by senior officials of the U.S. Justice Department during Donald Trump’s first term, suggesting they may have unlawfully attempted to influence the 2020 presidential election. According to a report from the department's internal watchdog, officials leaked details regarding non-public COVID-19 investigations aimed at several states with Democratic governors, specifically New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, all of which were criticized for their pandemic management (ABC News).

The inspectors general's report, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by ABC News and reviewed by Reuters, claims that one senior official in the DOJ's public affairs team expressed intentions to use leaked information as "our last play on them before the election." Texts obtained indicated that they planned to generate media coverage of reviews on nursing home deaths (Reuters). This conduct raises "serious questions about partisan political motivation for their actions in proximity to the 2020 election," as stated by Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

During the summer and fall of 2020, DOJ leaders pushed for investigations focused on nursing homes, disregarding data indicating care quality issues elsewhere. The report details how these officials sent letters to governors in late August, seeking data while simultaneously issuing press releases to generate media coverage around the investigations. Before reaching the state officials, information was leaked to outlets such as the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal (ABC News).

As the election drew closer, these leaks led to news stories critical of the states' handling of COVID-19, which could potentially sway voter opinions. Notably, the report described one official's communication as politically charged, suggesting that strategies were intentionally timed to coincide with the electoral process (Reuters).

In response to these findings, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel has begun reviewing the inspector general's report, aiming to assess potential violations of the Hatch Act, which limits political activities by federal employees. This development arrives in a context where Trump has continually criticized alleged politicization within U.S. law enforcement, a charge that is now juxtaposed against the actions of his own administration’s officials (Reuters).

For further details, view the full report on ABC News or access the information through Reuters.