Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Preetinder (Preet) Singh BhararaDemocratic attorneys criticize House Judiciary Democrats' questioning of Barr Clyburn echoes calls to rename Pettus bridge Support swells for renaming Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma to honor John Lewis after his death MORE spoke out in favor of members of the “deep state,” suggesting the theory is really a description of career professionals who try to uphold the law and “just do what’s right.”

“By deep state, if you mean professionals who are consummate professionals, who understand what continuity means, who understand what the Constitution is. Who don’t care about party, who don’t care about politics, who just do what’s right and honor the law and honor the Constitution,” Bharara told Bill Maher on his HBO show, and added in jest: “Then God bless the deep state.”

Bharara, who was fired by President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE last year after refusing to resign, said that while it “would not be great” to lose top officials in agencies like the FBI and CIA, he believed the existing staff would be able to continue its work.

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Trump and conservative lawmakers have slammed the so-called deep state, alleging that officials in the Department of Justice are biased against Trump and are attempting to undermine his presidency.

Bharara also offered some praise to FBI Director Christopher Wray, saying the country “accidentally got a great person” to head the agency, but added that Wray could do more to defend the institution.

“They’re sort of walking the line, trying to defend their institution and doing what’s right,” Bharara said of Department of Justice officials like Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein Rod RosensteinDOJ kept investigators from completing probe of Trump ties to Russia: report Five takeaways from final Senate Intel Russia report FBI officials hid copies of Russia probe documents fearing Trump interference: book MORE.

“And also placating a guy who gets angry and upset and could fire them on a whim,” he added of the president.