A senior Justice Department official ordered the dismissal of multiple prosecutors on Friday who had been handling cases against individuals charged in the U.S. Capitol riot, according to a memo obtained by the Associated Press.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directed the acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., to carry out the firings. The move comes just days after President Donald Trump issued pardons for more than 1,500 individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Additionally, Trump commuted the sentences of over a dozen people convicted of offenses such as seditious conspiracy in connection with the violent siege.
The Context
The firings coincide with broader efforts by the Trump administration to remove FBI agents involved in investigating the former president’s actions surrounding the riot, as well as his retention of classified documents after leaving office in 2021. Two individuals familiar with the plans confirmed the dismissals to the Associated Press on Friday.
Newsweek reached out to the attorney general’s office on Friday night for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
What to Know
The precise number of prosecutors dismissed remains unclear, though the Washington Post estimated the figure to be around 30. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, D.C., declined to comment when contacted by the AP.
A third source familiar with the situation told the AP that U.S. attorneys were instructed during a call earlier in the week to submit the names of prosecutors and agents involved in the hundreds of cases against those charged in the January 6 riot. The reason for collecting these names was not explained, according to the report.
Since taking office, Trump’s administration has undertaken widespread firings of civil servants, government watchdogs, and career officials deemed insufficiently aligned with his agenda.
Beyond the personnel shake-ups at the Justice Department, Trump has also ordered the closure of all federal offices focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, directing that staffers in those departments be immediately placed on paid leave.
Additionally, the administration is reportedly engaged in discussions with legal representatives for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was charged with bribery and other offenses and is seeking to have the case against him dismissed.
According to The New York Times, top Justice Department officials met Friday with prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office, along with Adams' defense attorneys, to discuss dropping the charges against him.
