USA, 2016. Smiling president Donald Trump, pointing his index finger towards the viewer in front of a waved American flag and cloudy sky. No specific place, date or single image for reference, USA.

Trump Administration Recruiting Problems Spread to Law Firms, FBI and Justice Department

Donald Trump’s administration remains in limbo as the president has yet to replace James B. Comey, former FBI director. Comey left his post on May 9, with Trump pledging to fill the director’s role promptly. Trump stated that he was close to filling the role three weeks ago, with several key candidates withdrawing from contention.

Representative Trey Gowdy, Senator John Cornyn, Richard McFeely (former FBI official) and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman all withdrew their names from contention.

The withdrawals are spreading to the Justice Department, too.

Attorneys, many of whom have landed in new positions, fear for their reputation and are avoiding the scandal-filled White House. Politico reports that the White House is trying to fill legal jobs in the Federal Government.

“They were dealing with a pool that had already shrunk, and, now, of course, some people will be avoiding it like the plague,” states a source from Politico.

Trump’s administration is further pushing law candidates away by undercutting their lawyers. Trump’s Twitter account didn’t help when the president tweeted: “In any event we are EXTREME VETTING people coming into the U.S. to help keep our country safe. The courts are slow and political!”

He followed up with another tweet, stating: “People, the lawyers, and the courts can call it whatever they want, but I am calling it what we need and what it is, a TRAVEL BAN!”

The tweets conflict with the Justice Department’s lawyers, who have filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to limit the impact of the “travel ban.” The lawyers called the initial ban a “temporary pause” and not a travel ban.

According to legal professionals, Trump’s tweets are counterproductive, with many wondering if the president anticipates a travel ban defeat.

Yahoo News reported today that four major law firms refused to represent Trump in an investigation into the president’s campaign and the possible relationship his campaign had with the Russians.

Lawyers fear that the president wouldn’t accept their advice and that his public statements may damage their position. Firms also believe that job recruitment and resumes would suffer due to being tied to the Trump administration.

Trump forced more than 40 prosecutors from the Obama Administration to resign from their positions in March. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has promised to increase efforts to fill empty prosecutor posts, with just one position out of 46 filled from the firings in March. There are currently 93 openings for U.S. attorneys.