The nomination underscores the president-elect’s intent to form the Justice Division’s coverage priorities in alignment along with his pledge to get robust on crime.
President-elect Donald Trump has introduced the nomination Aaron Reitz, former Texas deputy lawyer basic, to go the Justice Division’s Workplace of Authorized Coverage (OLP), a vital arm of the company accountable for crafting authorized coverage, vetting judicial nominees, and coordinating key legislative initiatives.
Trump made the announcement in a Dec. 21 publish on social media, through which he described Reitz as a “true MAGA lawyer” and “warrior for our Structure,” with the nomination underscoring the president-elect’s intent to form the Division of Justice’s (DOJ) coverage priorities in alignment with Trump’s pledge to get robust on crime.
“Aaron will lead OLP to develop and implement DOJ’s battle plans to advance my Regulation and Order Agenda, and restore integrity to our Justice System,” Trump wrote.
Trump expressed confidence that Reitz “will do an excellent job” on the DOJ, the place he’ll work alongside Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for U.S. lawyer basic, assuming each achieve Senate affirmation within the new 12 months.
The OLP is a pivotal a part of the DOJ, serving as its main suppose tank for authorized coverage growth. It performs a central function in shaping the administration’s authorized agenda by crafting legislative proposals, formulating coverage initiatives, and coordinating departmental laws. Moreover, OLP oversees the judicial nomination course of, working carefully with the White Home to vet candidates and put together them for affirmation hearings.
Reitz, who at present serves as Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) chief of workers, brings a monitor file of high-profile authorized battles in opposition to the Biden administration. In his earlier function as deputy lawyer basic for authorized technique in Texas Legal professional Basic Ken Paxton’s workplace, Reitz directed the Texas v. Biden docket.
“Collectively we’ve sued the Biden Administration practically 50 instances since January 2021 and secured an 80 [percent] win price preventing the nation’s most consequential authorized battles,” Reitz wrote in an April 2023 letter asserting his departure from Paxton’s workplace. “We’ve reinvigorated federalism. And we’ve held the road in opposition to the lawless federal authorities’s worst excesses.”
A few of the key achievements from his time at Paxton’s workplace that Reitz touted within the letter embrace defending Texas’s border safety measures, opposing federal immigration insurance policies, and advancing conservative causes akin to pro-life legal guidelines, Second Modification protections, and election integrity.
Paxton issued a congratulatory assertion on social media Saturday, calling Reitz “a loyal good friend and good man,” and “our ‘offensive coordinator’ main my very aggressive Texas-v-Biden docket.”
“He additionally spearheaded a few of our company’s most consequential actions on border safety, immigration, Large Tech, Covid, vitality, the setting, and election integrity,” Paxton wrote. “He’s a confirmed and efficient fighter for our Structure and American values, and goes to do an unimaginable job for President Trump and AG @PamBondi.”
Below Reitz’s management, the OLP is anticipated to prioritize points akin to strict immigration enforcement and lowering federal regulatory overreach.
In his function as head of the OLP, Reitz will work below Bondi, a former prosecutor who additionally served as Florida’s lawyer basic from 2011 to 2019. Bondi has vowed to finish what Trump has referred to as the weaponization of the Justice Division.
“For too lengthy, the partisan Division of Justice has been weaponized in opposition to me and different Republicans – Not anymore,” Trump wrote on Fact Social on Nov. 21. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its supposed function of preventing crime, and making America protected once more.”
Reitz may also work carefully with Trump’s choose for deputy lawyer basic, Todd Blanche, who is understood for his in depth expertise as a protection lawyer representing high-profile shoppers, together with Trump.
