WASHINGTON – As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to form his administration, a pivotal choice will be naming the attorney general to head the Department of Justice, which he and his supporters believe was deeply politicized by the Biden administration.

Trump’s connection with the department has been rocky.

During his first term, he attempted to halt the department’s investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. He also pressured officials to examine unfounded claims of election fraud from the 2020 election, in which he lost. Following his presidency, Trump has been involved in two federal cases concerning accusations of election interference and mishandling classified materials.

Currently, the attorney general position is viewed as Trump’s most crucial appointment.

“He needs to appoint someone with a critical viewpoint—someone who the staff will be wary of,” remarked Mark Corallo, a former DOJ spokesperson who advised Trump’s legal team during special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia inquiry.

Trump is expected to choose from a list of loyal candidates who will help execute potentially controversial policies, such as the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

“Throughout the campaign, Trump has made it clear that he will select loyalists for his administration, and this will certainly extend to the head of the Justice Department,” said Wayne Unger, an assistant law professor at Quinnipiac University.

“Ultimately, whoever Trump appoints is likely to undermine the traditional independence of the Justice Department from political influences coming from the White House,” Unger commented. “Trump has repeatedly indicated he will exert substantial influence over justice matters as President.”

Below are potential candidates — including lawmakers, members from his previous administration, and appointees — who are reportedly in consideration according to news sources and transition team members:

Sen. Mike Lee

Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, is one of the most frequently mentioned candidates. He collaborated closely with the White House, even receiving a call from Trump during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, by mistake when Trump intended to contact another senator.

Lee exchanged messages with Mark Meadows, Trump’s White House chief of staff, discussing strategies to contest the election results from 2020. In texts obtained by CNN, Lee expressed “firm support for you to utilize every legal and constitutional approach available,” although he ultimately voted to certify the election.

Lee has served in the Senate for 14 years, is on the Judiciary Committee, and previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

John Ratcliffe

John Ratcliffe, who served as Trump’s Director of National Intelligence and is a former Republican House member from Texas, is another notable candidate being considered.

During Mueller’s investigation into the 2016 election, Ratcliffe was an outspoken defender of Trump on the Judiciary and Intelligence committees.

Later, Trump appointed him to lead the intelligence community, a position Ratcliffe described as “America’s top spy.” Trump

He was awarded a National Security Medal.

Jeffrey Clark

Jeffrey Clark, who previously served as an assistant attorney general, was considered by Trump for the position of attorney general.

Trump consulted with Clark about mounting a strong challenge against the results of the 2020 election, leading Clark to compose a letter urging states to investigate allegations that had already been dismissed by other Department of Justice (DOJ) officials and Republican election leaders. However, when Trump suggested that Clark be appointed as attorney general, senior lawyers from the department and White House warned they would resign in unison, citing Clark’s lack of experience in criminal law.

“You’re an environmental lawyer,” Acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue told Clark during a tense meeting in the Oval Office on January 3, 2021. “Why don’t you return to your office, and we’ll reach out to you if we need assistance with an oil spill?”

Clark currently stands as a co-defendant with Trump in a case concerning alleged election racketeering in Georgia. The D.C. Bar Association is now deliberating over the possibility of disbarring him.

Judge Aileen Cannon

Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump in 2020, dismissed allegations that he unlawfully retained classified materials after his presidency.

Trump has often praised Cannon as “a highly respected federal judge,” including during remarks at the Republican National Convention. Nevertheless, some legal analysts have criticized her rulings in the documents case, arguing they were excessively lenient towards Trump, with two of her decisions subsequently being overturned by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Cannon addressed speculation regarding her potential advancement in position when she declined to recuse herself from the prosecution of Ryan Routh, who is accused of making attempts on Trump’s life. Routh had cited the “possibility of a judicial promotion” when requesting her replacement, but Cannon resolved that she did not need to recuse herself based on “highly tenuous speculation.”

Mike Davis

Mike Davis played a key role in guiding Trump’s judicial appointees through the Senate Judiciary Committee and emerged as a vigorous supporter during the investigations into his conduct, though he humorously suggested he might struggle to gain confirmation.

Davis previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and served as a special assistant U.S. attorney during George W. Bush’s presidency. He is known for his fierce defense of Trump and has urged former Representative Liz Cheney and special counsel Jack Smith to “lawyer up” concerning their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

In a more combative statement, Davis expressed his feelings towards political adversaries, saying he wanted to “drag their dead political bodies through the streets, burn them, and toss them off the wall” via legal, political, and financial means.

“I’m too charming to get confirmed as Attorney General,” Davis stated in a social media post on Wednesday.

Mark Paoletta

Mark Paoletta is a former counsel who worked for ten years with a House committee and has significant experience from his time in the White House. He represented Ginni Thomas, the spouse of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, during the House’s investigation into the events of January 6.

Paoletta was the chief counsel for the Energy and Commerce subcommittee, overseeing 200 investigative hearings. Within the Trump administration, he held the position of general counsel at the Office of Management and Budget, which oversees all federal expenditures and evaluates policy adjustments.

In addition, Paoletta played a role in preparing two Supreme Court nominees and various Cabinet members for confirmation hearings. Earlier, he served as assistant counsel to President George H.W. Bush, working on the confirmation of Justice Thomas.

Stephen Miller

Stephen Miller, who served as a senior advisor during Trump’s presidency, passionately campaigned alongside Trump to promote a strict policy on immigration, advocating for enhanced border security and the mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants.

Within the White House, Miller was engaged in immigration-related issues amidst heated debates over policies like the travel ban targeting Muslim individuals and the controversial “zero tolerance” stance on illegal immigration, which resulted in family separations at the border.

Miller energized Trump’s supporters, emphasizing the plight of Americans whose family members were “torn away from them by illegal aliens, criminal gangs, and thugs who don’t belong in our country,” as he remarked at a rally on October 27 at Madison Square Garden in New York. “America is for Americans, and Americans only,” he declared.

Though not a lawyer, Miller has actively worked to pursue his agenda, having established America First Legal to advocate for his immigration policies since Trump’s first term.