Then-Attorney General Pam Bondi answers questions from the media at the U.S. Capitol on March 18, 2026. Bondi is one of several DOJ officials who've faced ethics complaints with state bar associations in recent years. Matt McClain/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Matt McClain/Getty Images The Justice Department wants to oversee the discipline of its attorneys — even as government lawyers face more questions from judges and watchdogs about their conduct. A DOJ rule that would allow the attorney general to step in and potentially delay state bar investigations into federal prosecutors has sparked a flurry of comments from attorneys general around the country, as well as from former prosecutors, legal ethics experts and judges. Critics say allowing the department to delay or sideline state investigations weakens one of the last independent checks on government lawyers.…