Obama criticizes presidential influence over Justice Department

Former President Barack Obama used a recent appearance on Stephen Colbert’s show to argue that a president should not direct the attorney general to target political opponents. He said the Justice Department should act independently and described the attorney general as the public’s lawyer, not the president’s personal adviser. The White House responded sharply, calling Obama a “classless moron” and accusing him of worsening political division. The exchange came as former Attorney General Eric Holder’s past remarks about being Obama’s “wingman” resurfaced on social media, prompting renewed criticism from Trump supporters. The story also comes amid fresh scrutiny of how the Justice Department has handled cases involving Trump’s political adversaries, including former FBI Director James Comey, former national security adviser John Bolton, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Obama said he and Holder discussed broader policy issues, not specific prosecutions.