Moreno Seeks Updates from DOJ on Obama-Era Cleveland Consent Decree

WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) penned a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting an update on the Department of Justice's (DOJ) reexamination of Obama-era consent decrees, including the City of Cleveland's.

"President Trump and the Department of Justice are finally freeing police departments nationwide from the shackles of costly consent decrees that prohibit law enforcement officers from doing their jobs and protecting American citizens," wrote Senator Moreno."These consent decrees have only lined the pockets of out-of-state grift attorneys at the complete detriment of taxpayers and American cities."

On February 5, 2025, Senator Moreno penned a letter to Attorney General Bondi urging her to reexamine consent decrees nationwide and identify any other cities subject to these policies.

Read the full letter HERE or below.

November 7, 2025

The Honorable Pamela Bondi

Attorney General

United States Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, D.C. 20530

Dear Attorney General Bondi,

I write to respectfully request an update on the letter I sent you on February 5, 2025, regarding the Department of Justice's policies and practices concerning consent decrees nationwide, including the consent decree in the City of Cleveland.

Following my February 5, 2025 letter, I was pleased to see President Trump's decisive leadership on this important issue when he issued Executive Order 14288, Strengthening and Unleashing America's Law Enforcement To Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens. Likewise, I was relieved to see the Department of Justice act quickly and assist in ending the following but not limited to consent decrees: Louisville, Kentucky; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Norfolk, Virgina; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Seattle, Washington.

President Trump and the Department of Justice are finally freeing police departments nationwide from the shackles of costly consent decrees that prohibit law enforcement officers from doing their jobs and protecting American citizens. These consent decrees have only lined the pockets of out-of-state grift attorneys at the complete detriment of taxpayers and American cities.

The City of Cleveland would know. In March 2025, I filed a bar complaint against the City of Cleveland consent decree monitor who, I believe, not only abused his authority as a federal monitor but also consistently egregiously and unethically charged the City of Cleveland for "services" such as to attend a fallen officer's memorial service. Fortunately, this monitor finally resigned from his position in August 2025, even though he should have resigned immediately after his unethical behavior was exposed.

I know that President Trump and the Department of Justice will stop at nothing to continue the good work of ending these abusive consent decrees nationwide. Therefore, I respectfully request an update on the status of the remaining police consent decrees nationwide within 10 business days of receipt of this letter.

Sincerely,

BERNIE MORENO

United States Senator