'A serious breach':Watchdog group slaps Pam Bondi's 'Special Attorney' with complaint over potentially 'illegal conduct' [View all]

Source: Law & Crime

Aug 6th, 2025, 5:05 pm


An interim U.S. attorney that a court declined to appoint upon the expiration of his acting term — only to see him reappointed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as a "Special Attorney" with the same powers — acted "erratically and potentially illegally" and in violation of professional rules, claimed a bar complaint from a nonprofit, self-described watchdog group.

The Campaign for Accountability's (CfA) complaint against John Sarcone III, submitted to the Attorney Grievance Committee of New York's Third Judicial Department and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, alleged that Sarcone, "in just the four months since he was initially sworn in […] may have violated numerous rules governing attorney conduct."

The complaint listed six rules, each "prohibiting" certain conduct: "improper extrajudicial statements"; "instituting charges not supported by probable cause"; "illegal conduct that adversely reflects on honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness"; "conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation"; acting in a manner "prejudicial to the administration of justice"; and acting in a manner that "adversely reflects on the lawyer's fitness as a lawyer."

Sarcone, a Donald Trump loyalist who lacked prosecutorial experience and has at least once called the Democratic Party "evil," was appointed by Bondi in late February and then sworn in as interim U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York. Like acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba, Sarcone needed to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve permanently in the U.S. attorney position.

Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/a-serious-breach-watchdog-group-slaps-pam-bondis-special-attorney-with-complaint-over-potentially-illegal-conduct/