Barbara McQuade, Columnist

The DOJ Is Normalizing Vigilantism

April 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC

Barbara McQuade is a professor at the University of Michigan Law school, a former US attorney and author of the forthcoming book, "The Fix: Saving America from the Corruption of a Mob-Style Government."

They’re thrilled.
*Photographer: Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images*

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Officials at the DOJ delivered a politically convenient one-two punch to the work of their predecessors this week.

The Department of Justice’s “Weaponization Working Group” issued its first report, accusing the Biden administration of unfairly targeting Christian and anti-abortion activists with federal charges. On the same day, the DOJ filed a motion to vacate the convictions of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who were found guilty of seditious conspiracy for their actions during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol — even though President Donald Trump had already pardoned them.