The answer is no. They can be influenced by polititians when a little guy is going up a giant with deep pockets and political influence. I know from vey recent experience.

As part owner in a private company that sued the largest chip manufacturer in the world. The evidence was overwhelming in our favor. There experts could not anser questions and looked foolish. When a giant like that emails your company and asks how our product can make their product better. And we send our Engineers to show them thinking they would buy a license but instead steal it for years to give them the best Processor on the planet. You think you had an open and shut case. But when 17 U.S. Senators and Congressmen write letters to the Judge for the Giant and the Judge ignors all rules of Law to find in their favor, you have to wonder. Especially when you know these same polititians vote on funding for the ITC office.

Thank God there is an ITC Comission to appeal to that overturns 50% of the Judges rulings.