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A former prosecutor signaled that President Donald Trump faces a number of heightened challenges, including a dilemma over the Department of Justice.

In a live video conversation between Joyce Vance and Alex Wagner on Substack Friday, Vance suggested that a power struggle was happening behind-the-scenes at the Department of Justice since former Attorney General Pam Bondi has left and an embattled Trump faces a growing number of obstacles from voter dissatisfaction over the economy, the war in Iran and opposition to his ballroom ambitions — all with midterms on the horizon.

"Donald Trump is like a cornered animal right now," Vance said. "He can read the polls. He's got troubles in Iran."

Vance mentioned how Trump's questionable ties to late financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have also continued to plague his presidency, noting a Jim Comey AI meme she saw on social media that read "release the Epstein files" using beach seashells — similar to the Comey Instagram post that prompted an indictment this week.

"So much of this is a reaction to that. And so I think the more cornered Trump is, the more the people who are trying to curry favor with him are likely to act out. And it's not just Todd Blanche, right? We know that he has competition for the top spot," Vance said.

Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, has been mentioned as a potential contender to lead the DOJ, Vance explained. So has Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights at the DOJ.

"I'm sure there is a cast of thousands trying to compete for the job," Vance said.

Legal News Du Jour by Joyce Vance

A recording from Joyce Vance and Alex Wagner's live video

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