Politics
Justice in the Crosshairs: Cartoons on Trump’s DOJ
By CM Chaney · September 8, 2026
From Sessions to Blanche, editorial cartoonists have chronicled how Trump transformed the Justice Department into a tool for personal loyalty — and personal revenge. Thirty cartoons spanning a decade.
Blanche the AG Shown on Trump Leash
The cartoon responds to ongoing questions about the independence of the attorney general under a Trump administration. Blanche, depicted as the AG, faces scrutiny over whether the office operates free from direct presidential direction. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Signals Continued Control Over Blanche Appointment
President Trump announced he would retain Todd Blanche in an acting capacity in a key legal post. The decision underscores ongoing questions about how the administration fills senior positions and the emphasis placed on personal allegiance. Observers note the move continues a pattern of using interim titles to maintain influence over officials. Cagle Cartoons
Jeff Sessions Depicted as Blind Justice with Confederate Flag
The cartoon portrays Attorney General Jeff Sessions as Lady Justice wearing a Confederate flag blindfold. He holds scales of justice with a snake weighing down one side and a sword in the other hand. The image appeared days after his confirmation in February 2017. Cagle Cartoons
Doubts Surface Over Sessions Testimony as Boxes Signal Possible Exit
The cartoon depicts Attorney General Jeff Sessions standing before his desk as two workers begin removing boxes from the office. One worker holds a document labeled Sessions Testimony Doubted. Sessions raises a hand and says through a speech bubble to hold up just a minute. Cagle Cartoons
FBI Director Comey Presses Clinton on New Emails Days Before Vote
FBI Director James Comey appears in a rumpled trench coat confronting Hillary Clinton about additional emails recovered from a laptop linked to Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin. The exchange occurs less than one week before the 2016 presidential election. Cagle Cartoons
Comey Leads Hillary Email Probe as DOJ and IG Close In
On January 16, 2017, Dave Granlund's cartoon depicts FBI Director James Comey running with a Hillary Clinton email probe briefcase as two dogs labeled DOJ and IG PROBE chase scattered papers. Cagle Cartoons
Jeff Sessions expresses worry over possible tapes during Senate testimony
The cartoon depicts Attorney General Jeff Sessions seated at a witness table during a closed Senate Intelligence Committee session on June 13, 2017. Cagle Cartoons
Sessions Testimony Shows Gaps on Russia Election Meddling
The cartoon depicts Attorney General Jeff Sessions during his June 2017 Senate testimony on Russian interference in the 2016 election. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Signals Uncertainty on Sessions Role Amid Ongoing Probes
The image depicts President Donald Trump holding knives near Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who already has multiple blades embedded in his back. Trump states that time will tell regarding future developments. This responds to the 2017 tensions following the firing of FBI Director James Comey and Sessions recusal from the Russia inquiry. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Fires FBI Director Comey Amid Russia Probe
The cartoon shows Donald Trump perched in a tree labeled Russian Investigation, dressed in judicial robes, shouting You're Fired at a dog labeled Comey. Cagle Cartoons
Strzok Texts Highlight Bias Claims in Mueller Russia Probe
The cartoon shows a reporter from the mainstream media claiming smooth sailing for the Mueller probe into Trump Russian collusion. In the background a blimp marked biased FBI agent Strzok role on investigation crashes into a tower in a Hindenburg style disaster. Cagle Cartoons
Trump and GOP elephant depart from Lady Justice pedestal amid Nunes memo
The cartoon shows Lady Justice on a rule of law pedestal holding a #MeToo sign and scales filled with papers labeled Nunes memo, McCabe and Comey. Handprints mark her robe. Donald Trump and a GOP elephant walk away as Trump says the quote about stars being allowed to do anything. Cagle Cartoons
Attorney General Sessions Marks His Stance
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is shown standing at the entrance to an office carved in a tree trunk. He holds a marker and adds lines to the trunk beside the door labeled A.G. Jeff Sessions. Cagle Cartoons
Sessions depicted shielding rule of law inside fortified bunker
The image shows former Attorney General Jeff Sessions seated inside a sandbag and barbed-wire bunker while clutching a document labeled rule of law. The composition uses the bunker as a visual stand-in for protection of institutional norms during the Russia investigation. Publication occurred days after Sessions left office in November 2018. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Cartoon Shows Kick to Sessions Over Russia Inquiry
The cartoon shows President Trump, dressed in Russian-style attire, delivering a kick that sends Attorney General Jeff Sessions flying. The image responds to Sessions' departure from the Justice Department in November 2018 during the Russia investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Cagle Cartoons
Jeff Sessions Removed as Attorney General
Jeff Sessions appears bound and blindfolded while two men in fedoras lead him away. A speech bubble shows him claiming to have restored the rule of law. The image responds to his November 2018 dismissal by President Trump during the Russia investigation led by Robert Mueller. Cagle Cartoons
Bill Barr lifts blindfold while holding unbalanced scales of justice
The cartoon depicts Attorney General William Barr lifting a blindfold to peek while holding the scales of justice, one pan lower than the other. It responds to 2019 controversies over the Justice Department's handling of investigations and questions about Barr's recusal decisions. Cagle Cartoons
Bill Barr depicted altering Department of Justice sign to reflect personal control
The cartoon shows Attorney General Bill Barr on a ladder changing the lettering on the Department of Justice building to read The Department of Whatever Bill Barr Says. Statues line the pediment above. Cagle Cartoons
Merrick Garland stands in tall grass holding briefcase labeled DOJ Trump indictments
Merrick Garland appears in tall grass holding a briefcase marked DOJ Trump indictments. The image addresses the pace of the Justice Department probe into former President Donald Trump handling of classified documents as of February 2023. Special Counsel Jack Smith had recently been appointed to lead aspects of the inquiry. Cagle Cartoons
Lawyer Claims Comey Innocent in Seashell Photo Dispute Amid New Charges
James Comey stands accused in a federal case tied to a beach photo posted online. His lawyer insists the former FBI director only took the image and did not arrange the seashells. The defense highlights knowledge of who did place the items while calling the case weak. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Demands Immediate Indictment of Comey in Cartoon Depiction of DOJ Pressure
The cartoon illustrates President Donald Trump seated at a table demanding justice while Attorney General Pam Bondi serves a large rock labeled Comey indictment. The rock features a terrified face with an apple in its mouth. A quote from Trump appears above. Cagle Cartoons
Cartoon depicts James Comey bound by Trump-era DOJ figures in Gulliver-style scene
The cartoon by R.J. Matson portrays former FBI Director James Comey as a giant figure bound by ropes on the ground outside a government building. Small caricatures of President Trump, Kash Patel in an FBI jacket, and other officials stand on his chest holding a scroll that reads "CHARGED IS GUILTY. Cagle Cartoons
Todd Blanche Claims Arm's Length From Trump Amid Hearing
In the cartoon, Todd Blanche testifies before a panel that he operates at arm's length from the president. The image shows Blanche at the witness table with a speech bubble containing that statement. Below the table, Donald Trump is depicted on the floor holding a cord attached to Blanche's chair. Cagle Cartoons
Todd Blanche Declares Slush Fund Dead as Mitch McConnell
Todd Blanche told a congressional panel the slush fund is dead, comparing it directly to Mitch McConnell. The declaration prompted immediate confusion from other members about whether the fund remains active. The exchange highlights ongoing disputes over fund management and transparency in Congress. Cagle Cartoons