Until last month, Anthony Coley was Director of Public Affairs at the Justice Department and a Senior Adviser to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Coley was in the middle of some of the most extraordinary episodes at DOJ over the last two years:
The appointment of two special counsels investigating one current and one former president.
Responding to the drama around the investigation of the president’s son.
Taking incoming from right-wing pundits saying Garland was protecting President Biden and left-wing pundits saying the attorney general was protecting former president Trump.
And occasionally grappling with perhaps the most difficult dilemma that any government official faces: what do you do when you disagree with the boss?
In his first interview since leaving Merrick Garland’s side, Coley joins Playbook Deep Dive host Ryan Lizza from his home on Capitol Hill to discuss how the Justice Department separates law from politics, why two special counsels might just take the pressure off Garland, and much, much more.
Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Anthony Coley is the former director of public affairs at the Department of Justice
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Brook Hayes is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer for POLITICO audio.
The quarter-billion dollar PAC driving a red wave
Weaponized (un)truths: Has the GOP ‘lost its mind’?
How we predict elections
Dream job disappointment: Testifying against Trump
Giorgia Meloni's Hard Right Playbook
The untold story of Trump's botched impeachments
The Bitter End to democracy? Hindsight is 20/20.
Kara Swisher knows when to fold ‘em
When Senator Leahy laughed with Raul Castro
Ron Klain says ‘season of substance’ could save Dems
Byrd nerds: Why the byzantine process of budget reconciliation exists and how it actually works
Biden’s big bill: Two GOP strategists on how to kill it
Legalizing the trip: One ‘shroom advocate’s playbook
He was right about inflation. Biden wasn’t. Larry Summers on what’s coming next
LA wants to recall its most progressive prosecutor. Inside the DA’s hostile office
Why haven’t there been more Cassidy Hutchinsons?
New Jan. 6 witness: Trump had mystery call with Putin
Director’s cut: What else did Judge Luttig have to say about Jan. 6 in his interview
He defied Trump and still survived a GOP primary
Will the GOP control Congress for the next decade?
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Tiny Desk Concerts - Video
The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Left, Right & Center
The Jason Stapleton Program
Podcast for America