The U.S. Department of Justice has recently filled several key positions with individuals whose backgrounds and past conduct have sparked controversy and raised questions about their suitability for enforcement roles, particularly ahead of upcoming elections.

Among the appointments is Barry Arrington, a gun rights activist known for his opposition to the theory of evolution and same-sex marriage. Arrington currently serves as acting chief of the newly established Second Amendment unit and gained national attention last year when he successfully challenged Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy before the Supreme Court.

In the department’s voting section, which has taken an active role in investigating voter fraud ahead of midterm elections, Eric Neff was appointed as interim leader. Neff brings experience from over a decade as a California prosecutor handling more than 50 criminal cases. However, his tenure ended amid controversy; in 2022, he was placed on administrative leave after an indictment he filed against a software company executive for allegedly storing poll worker data on a Chinese server was withdrawn due to alleged procedural irregularities. The case eventually resulted in a $5 million settlement, and Neff has since filed a whistleblower claim against Los Angeles County, which remains unresolved.

Another figure involved in election-related efforts is David Michael Levin, who accompanied Justice Department officials to poll monitoring at Minnesota’s primary elections in August. Levin has a criminal record stemming from incidents in 2015 and 2016 when he hacked into an election system in Florida as a political stunt. He pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, serving a 20-day jail sentence and probation. Critics have expressed concern that such hires may undermine public trust in electoral oversight. Senator Peter Welch, a Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, warned that deploying politically motivated personnel risks eroding confidence in the electoral process.

Levin is also embroiled in a civil lawsuit related to his insurance lead generation business; court rulings have cited him for disregarding court orders and found him liable for fraudulent misrepresentation and civil conspiracy, resulting in damages exceeding $200,000.

Another department official involved in polling activities is William Mohrman, a Minnesota-based attorney known for representing Minneapolis police officers charged in the George Floyd murder case, as well as participating in civil rights litigation involving voter rolls.

Among other recently hired lawyers working on elections and civil rights cases is David Vandenberg, a former prosecutor with prior disciplinary complaints related to workplace conduct and ongoing charges of animal neglect. Vandenberg’s former supervisors have publicly questioned his suitability. The Justice Department has defended his record, highlighting his prosecutorial work addressing child victims of human trafficking and violent crimes, and stated ongoing matters are expected to be resolved.

Khalil H. Quinan, appointed in May, previously handled gun, gang, and violent crime cases as a state prosecutor in Florida. He was removed from a high-profile murder trial in 2025 after a judge found he improperly viewed and shared privileged communications. The Justice Department described him as a top-performing prosecutor who acted in accordance with supervisors’ directives.

Other controversial hires include James Breslo, part of the legal team suing UCLA's medical school over discrimination claims. Breslo’s background includes hosting a podcast featuring far-right activists and expressing critical views on political figures, including former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris. Justice Department officials emphasized his extensive legal and executive experience.

Daniel Flickinger, who joined the division’s education litigation team in 2024, was previously dismissed from a private Alabama law firm after comments he made on social media about George Floyd’s death drew backlash. He has since returned to legal practice in relevant areas.

Peter Feaman, a senior counsel hired in early 2025, has a history of far-right political statements on social media, including conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines and the January 6 Capitol attack. Feaman also published a book with a falsely attributed positive review. Department officials have stated his personal views do not affect his legal work.

A Justice Department spokeswoman, Kiersten Pels, defended these hires, emphasizing their qualifications and experience. She noted that personnel decisions follow established procedures, and social media activity does not necessarily reflect professional capabilities. However, critics including lawmakers and election officials continue to express concern that these appointments could politicize departmental efforts and undermine public confidence in election integrity.