Vance Announces New Fraud Czar

Is the new fraud division protecting taxpayers from criminals, or politicizing prosecutorial power?

Published 13 hours ago

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Above: U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at a news briefing in the White House, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 8, 2026. Image credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Republican narrative

Unprecedented levels of organized fraud are robbing hard-working American taxpayers of billions of dollars, while local officials refuse to act. Establishing a DOJ division dedicated to tackling this epidemic will finally hold bad actors accountable and dismantle the criminal networks exploiting social security services nationwide.

Trump White House

Pam Bondi on X

Democratic narrative

An AAG along the lines described by Vance would critically undermine the rule of law. By running the position out of the White House rather than the DOJ, the administration is deliberately politicizing prosecutorial powers for its own purposes, which center primarily on targeting its political opposition in Democratic states.

Bloomberglaw

Ryan Goodman on X