Integrity Wall - DOJ
The people and organizations on these pages include civil servants, organizations and other individuals/entities who stood up for the laws that protect our citizens, our data, our society and justice. Some people resigned rather than compromise their integrity or violate federal statute. Some retired or were fired instead. Others have been targeted by the regime and/or are standing firm against tyranny. In every instance, each chose the path that illustrates the best of our nation despite the difficulties or risks to themselves, rather than the easy route. In some cases, it was to stand and fight (or be fired); in others, it meant resigning or retiring. Their examples sustain us and remind us to do the next right thing.
Department of Justice
Damian
Williams
United States Attorney,
Southern District of New York,
Department of Justice
On November 25, 2024, Mr. Williams announced his resignation effective December 13, 2024 before Trump's inauguration. He was the first Black individual to serve in the position.
Prophetically, he said at the time of his announcement:
"I am confident I am leaving at a time when the office is functioning at an incredibly high level - upholding and exceeding its already high standard of excellence, integrity and independence."
Christopher R.
Kavanaugh
United States Attorney,
Western District of Virginia,
Department of Justice
On December 20, 2024, Mr. Kavanaugh resigned before Trump's inauguration.
"It has been the honor of my life to lead this team of selfless individuals who are so dedicated to fairness, the rule of law, and doing what is right."
Gregory K. Harris
United States Attorney,
Central District of Illinois,
Department of Justice
On December 30, 2024, Mr. Graves announced his resignation effective January 2, 2025 before Trump's inauguration. He was the first Black individual to serve in the position.
Jay
Bratt
Counselor to the Special Counselor,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 3, 2025, Mr. Bratt retired before Trump's inauguration. Mr. Bratt worked on the team that investigated Trump and assisted Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Philip R. Sellinger
United States Attorney,
District of New Jersey,
Department of Justice
On December 23, 2024, Mr. Graves announced his resignation effective January 8, 2025 before Trump's inauguration.
Jack
Smith
Special Counsel,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 10, 2025, Mr. Smith resigned prior to Trump's inauguration after handing over the report of his investigation to the Attorney General.
"My Office had one north star: to follow the facts and law wherever they led. Nothing more and nothing less.”
Aaron S.J.
Zelinsky
Deputy Chief, National Security & Cybercrime Section,
District of Maryland,
Department of Justice
On January 10, 2025, Mr. Zelinsky resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration. Mr. Zelinsky worked on the team that investigated Trump and assisted Special Counsel Jack Smith.
"I am furious, heartbroken, and disappointed (but sadly not surprised) at what the President and his appointees are doing to DOJ—an attempt to build a government of men, not of laws."
Breon S.
Peace
United States Attorney,
Eastern District of New York,
Department of Justice
On January 10, 2025, Mr. Peace resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration.
"The mission remains the same. Despite what people may say, we are not a political office. The DOJ is not a political body. The people here are career people who join to do justice, pursue equal justice under the law."
Gerald
Karam
United States Attorney,
Middle District of Pennsylvania,
Department of Justice
On January 10, 2025, Mr. Karam resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration.
Phillip
Talbert
United States Attorney,
Eastern District of California,
Department of Justice
On January 11, 2025, Mr. Talbert resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration.
"I am furious, heartbroken, and disappointed (but sadly not surprised) at what the President and his appointees are doing to DOJ—an attempt to build a government of men, not of laws."
Peter D.
Leary
United States Attorney,
Middle District of Georgia,
Department of Justice
On January 11, 2025, Mr. Talbert resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration.
“Serving our country for my entire legal career has been everything I hoped it would be; that is largely because I got to work alongside men and women who share the same vision of seeking justice.”
Andrew M.
Luger
United States Attorney,
District of Minnesota,
Department of Justice
On January 15, 2025, Mr. Luger resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration.
“Serving our country for my entire legal career has been everything I hoped it would be; that is largely because I got to work alongside men and women who share the same vision of seeking justice.”
Matthew M. Graves
United States Attorney,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
Mr. Graves announced in December 2024 that he would be resigning effective January 16, 2025 before Trump's inauguration.
E. Martin
Estrada
United States Attorney,
Central District of California,
Department of Justice
On January 17, 2025, Mr. Estrada resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration.
Vanessa R.
Avery
United States Attorney,
District of Connecticut,
Department of Justice
On January 17, 2025, Ms. Avery resigned from her position before Trump's inauguration.
Jill E.
Steinberg
United States Attorney,
Southern District of Georgia,
Department of Justice
On January 17, 2025, Ms. Steinberg resigned from her position before Trump's inauguration.
Markenzy
Lapointe
United States Attorney,
Southern District of Florida,
Department of Justice
On January 17, 2025, Mr. Lapointe resigned from his position at the Miami office before Trump's inauguration. He was the first black attorney and Haitian-American to serve in the position.
Jason M.
Frierson
United States Attorney,
District of Nevada,
Department of Justice
On January 17, 2025, Mr. Frierson resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration.
Jane E.
Young
United States Attorney,
District of New Hampshire,
Department of Justice
On January 17, 2025, Ms. Young resigned from her position before Trump's inauguration.
Clifford D.
Johnson
United States Attorney,
Northern District of Indiana,
Department of Justice
On January 18, 2025, Mr. Johnson resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration.
Todd
Gee
United States Attorney,
Southern District of Mississippi,
Department of Justice
On January 18, 2025, Mr. Gee resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration.
Zachary A.
Myers
United States Attorney,
Southern District of Indiana,
Department of Justice
On January 18, 2025, Mr. Johnson resigned from his position before Trump's inauguration.
"The rule of law is not self-executing. It requires the hard work and sacrifice of public servants acting with dedication and fairness."
Sandra J.
Hairston
United States Attorney,
Middle District of North Carolina,
Department of Justice
On January 18, 2025, Ms. Hairston resigned before Trump's inauguration.
"The late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. often said, ‘The time is always right to do what is right.’"
Alamdar S.
Hamdani
United States Attorney,
Southern District of Texas,
Department of Justice
On January 18, 2025, Mr. Hamdani resigned before Trump's inauguration. He was the first Asian in Texas that was presidentially appointed and senate confirmed.
"We love mercy, walk humbly and always, always, seek justice."
Ryan K.
Buchanan
United States Attorney,
Northern District of Georgia,
Department of Justice
On January 19, 2025, Mr. Buchanan resigned from his position at the Atlanta office before Trump's inauguration.
Kate E. Brubacher
United States Attorney,
District of Kansas,
Department of Justice
On January 19, 2025, Ms. Brubacher resigned from her position at the Kansas City office before Trump's inauguration. She was the first woman to hold the office.
Dawn N.
Ison
United States Attorney,
Eastern District of Michigan,
Department of Justice
On January 19, 2025, Ms. Ison resigned from her position at the Detroit office before Trump's inauguration.
“I sincerely hope that any legacy I leave includes empowering communities to know that they deserve to live in peaceful neighborhoods, free of violence, hate, and other threats and that they are partners in this effort to achieve public safety for all."
Leigha
Simonton
United States Attorney,
Northern District of Texas,
Department of Justice
On January 19, 2025, Ms. Simonton resigned from her position before Trump's inauguration.
Clare E.
Connors
Attorney General,
District of Hawaii,
Department of Justice
On January 20, 2025, Ms. Connors resigned her position before Trump's inauguration.
Eric G.
Olshan
Attorney General,
Western District of Pennsylvania,
Department of Justice
On January 20, 2025, Mr. Olshan resigned his position before Trump's inauguration.
"It reflects, we think, what the community should expect of the public servants who serve in our office — which is to follow the facts and the law and secure justice for the victims."
Jessica D.
Aber
Attorney General,
Eastern District of Virginia,
Department of Justice
Mark
Totten
Attorney General,
Western District of Michigan,
Department of Justice
On January 20, 2025, Mr. Totten resigned his position before Trump's inauguration.
Merrick
Garland
Attorney General,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 20, 2025, Mr. Garland left his position before Trump's inauguration.
In his final speech to his workforce, he warned that “the same powers that enable the federal prosecutor to pursue justice also create the potential for grave injustice.”
Brandon B.
Brown
United States Attorney,
Western District of Louisiana,
Department of Justice
On January 20, 2025, Mr. Brown resigned his position before Trump's inauguration.
Vanessa R.
Waldref
United States Attorney,
Eastern District of Washington,
Department of Justice
On January 20, 2025, Ms. Waldref resigned her position before Trump's inauguration.
William J.
Ihlenfeld II
United States Attorney,
Northern District of West Virginia,
Department of Justice
On January 20, 2025, Mr. Ihlenfeld resigned his position before Trump's inauguration.
Nikolas P.
Kerest
United States Attorney,
District of Vermont,
Department of Justice
On January 20, 2025, Mr. Kerest resigned his position before Trump's inauguration.
Damien M.
Diggs
United States Attorney,
Eastern District of Texas,
Department of Justice
On January 21, 2025, Mr. Diggs resigned his position.
"This office and our committed local, state, and federal law enforcement partners go above and beyond daily to keep our communities safe, uphold the rule of law, and protect the civil rights of the citizenry."
Brendan
Ballou
Assistant U.S. Attorney,
Capitol Siege Division,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 23, 2025, Mr. Ballou resigned his position which also included time in the Anti-Trust Division. On February 25, 2025, he testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee.
"If you are a law-abiding American, the actions of the past month should be tremendously concerning. Largely ending foreign bribery and corruption cases and threatening to fire public corruption prosecutors, investigating political enemies while putting political friends above the
law: these are all efforts to return us to the time of the Nixon administration, and it harms you, no matter your political beliefs. The only people who benefit from these actions are vigilantes and militias, corrupt politicians and executives, agents of foreign governments and oligarchs. For them, this will be a golden age."
Stacey
Young
Senior Attorney, Civil Rights Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
While at the DOJ, Ms. Young founded the DOJ Gender Equality Network (DOJ GEN). She and the DOJ parted ways on January 24, 2025 and she founded the Justice Connection a week later as a resource for DOJ employees. She testified at a shadow hearing on April 7, 2025.
"Increasingly, career employees are being told that to keep their jobs, they must ignore their ethical duties and oath to uphold the Constitution."
Michael E. Thakur
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Florida,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Thakur, a federal prosecutor, was fired in retaliation for having worked for Special Counsel Jack Smith during the two prosecutions of Trump.
Retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Chris McAliley in an op-ed spoke of the firings:
"If such unjustifiable dismissals in the DOJ continue, we will no longer have the best among us, proud to serve and protect us. It will take generations for this country, and our institutions, to recover."
Anne McNamara
Assistant U.S. Attorney,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Ms. McNamara was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for her role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Raymond Hulser
Chief, Public Integrity Section, Criminal Division,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Hulser was fired for his role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
"For more than three decades, I served the public. I treated crime victims, witnesses and co-workers with respect, and I prosecuted countless people based on a simple formula: the facts and the law."
Molly
Gaston
Senior Assistant Special Counsel,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Ms. Gaston was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for her role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Joseph "J.P." Cooney
Deputy Special Counsel,
District of Columbia, Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Cooney was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for his role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Julie
Edelstein
Principal Deputy Chief, Counterintelligence & Export Control Section, National Security Division,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Ms. Edelstein was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for her role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
James I.
Pearce
Assistant Special Counsel,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Pearce was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for his role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
David
Rody
Acting Deputy Attorney General,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Rody was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for his role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Timothy "Tad" Duree
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Fraud Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Duree was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for his role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Jonathan
Haray
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Fraud Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Haray was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for his role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
John
Pellettieri
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Appellate Section,
Criminal Division
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Pelletieri was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for his role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Gregory Bernstein
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Major Frauds Section, Central District of California, Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Bernstein was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for his role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Cecil W. VanDevender
Assistant Special Counsel,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On or about January 27, 2025, Mr. VanDevender left his position (unclear whether he was fired or resigned).
Mary Dohrmann
Assistant Special Counsel,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Ms. McNamara was fired by Acting Attorney General James McHenry for her role in investigating Trump and assisting Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Mack
Jenkins
Chief, Public Corruption & Civil Rights Section, Criminal Division,
Central District of California,
Department of Justice
On or about January 27, 2025, Mr. Jenkins left his position (unclear whether he was fired or resigned).
Matthew
Burke
Assistant U.S. Attorney,
Eastern District of Virginia,
Department of Justice
On or about January 27, 2025, Mr. Burke left his position (unclear whether he was fired or resigned).
Brett
Reynolds
Counterintelligence & Export Control Section, National Security Division,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On or about January 27, 2025, Mr. Reynolds left his position (unclear whether he was fired or resigned).
Peter
Andrews
Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Emil Bove fired Mr. Andrews because he had worked on prosecuting Capitol rioters.
Names not released
Potentially 2 attorneys
On January 27, 2025, it was reported that Trump had ordered the firing of up to eighteen federal prosecutors who worked for Special Counsel Jack Smith during the two criminal prosecutions of Trump.
Corey R. Amundson
Chief, Public Integrity Division,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Amundson was removed from his post and assigned to a newly-created sanctuary cities workgroup. Mr. Amundson chose to resign instead.
Sara
Levine
Assistant U.S. Attorney,
Capitol Seige Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 30, 2025, Ms. Levine, along with sixteen other attorneys, were fired for prosecuting the January 6th Capitol attackers.
"The Justice Department is under attack. They're coming after the people that want to uphold the laws that exist. And that should be terrifying to everyone."
Bradley Weinsheimer
Associate Deputy Attorney General,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 27, 2025, Mr. Weinsheimer was removed from his post and assigned to a newly-created sanctuary cities workgroup. On February 18, 2025, he chose to accept the deferred resignation offer instead of the reassignment.
Sean
Brennan
Assistant U.S. Attorney,
Capitol Seige Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 30, 2025, Mr. Brennan, along with sixteen other attorneys, were fired for prosecuting the January 6th Capitol attackers.
"I don't think I could live with myself if I didn't at least try to help people understand why what we've seen happening in the Department of Justice over the past few weeks is so critical and why it not only puts all Americans individually at risk. It really puts our constitutional governmental structure at risk."
Names not released
14 Assistant U.S. Attorneys,
Capitol Seige Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On January 30, 2025, fourteen other attorneys, were fired for prosecuting the January 6th Capitol attackers.
Michael F. Easley, Jr.
United States Attorney,
Eastern District of North Carolina,
Department of Justice
On February 3, 2025, Mr. Easley resigned.
"You want somebody who’s going to focus on the mission and the people and making Eastern North Carolina a safer place and not let politics get anywhere near this job."
S. Lane
Tucker
United States Attorney,
District of Alaska,
Department of Justice
On February 8, 2025, Ms. Lane left her position after she was ordered to retire or resign at the beginning of the month.
Erek
Barron
United States Attorney,
District of Maryland,
Department of Justice
Ismail "Izzy"
Ramsey
United States Attorney,
Northern District of California,
Department of Justice
Tara
McGrath
United States Attorney,
Southern District of California,
Department of Justice
Dena J.
King
United States Attorney,
Western District of North Carolina,
Department of Justice
On February 12, 2025, Ms. King resigned her position. This was after Trump ordered the remaining Biden appointees gone. She was the first Black individual or person of color to hold the position.
On March 4, 2025, she said:
"When diversity is present in any space — not even just the criminal justice, in any space that exists — diversity only enhances that space."
Joshua
Hurwit
United States Attorney,
District of Idaho,
Department of Justice
Danielle R. Sassoon
Acting U.S. District Attorney, Southern District of New York,
Department of Justice
On February 13, 2025, Ms. Sassoon resigned rather than drop a corruption case at behest of Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, whom she believed engaged in an unethical quid pro quo. Her resignation letter can be found here.
"...I cannot agree to seek a dismissal driven by improper considerations."
Kevin O. Driscoll
Acting Chief of the Criminal Division,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On February 13, 2025, Mr. Driscoll resigned when Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered him to drop the corruption case after Ms. Sassoon's refusal.
John D.
Keller
Acting Chief of the Public Integrity Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
Mr. Keller also resigned on February 13, 2025 when the corruption case was reassigned to his office after Ms. Sassoon's refusal.
Hagen
Scotten
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York,
Department of Justice
On February 14, 2025, Mr. Scotten resigned from the Department of Justice. Read his resignation letter here.
"...I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to me."
Trini E.
Ross
United States Attorney
Western District of New York,
Department of Justice
Names not released
3 Attorneys,
Public Integrity Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On February 14, 2025, three additional attorneys from the Public Integrity Division chose to resign rather than sign the dismissal request for the corruption case.
Brandon
Jaroch
Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, Executive Office for Immigration Review,
Department of Justice
On February 14, 2025, Mr. Jaroch was fired along with six others from the EOIR by the Trump administration.
"I never imagined in a minute that I would be up here talking about my termination/removal unexpectedly from federal service after dedicating 20 years and more, myself as a disabled veteran, that I'd be terminated. I just wanted to say on behalf of me and my six colleagues that...the treatment that we received was unjustified and was unwarranted."
Mac
Schneider
United States Attorney,
District of North Dakota,
Department of Justice
Trina A.
Higgins
United States Attorney,
District of Utah,
Department of Justice
Jacqueline C. Romero
United States Attorney,
Eastern District of Pennsylvania,
Department of Justice
On February 17, 2025, Ms. Romero resigned from her position as head of the Philadelphia office.This was after Trump ordered the remaining Biden appointees gone. She was the first woman of color to hold the position.
"We, as public servants, will continue our commitment to the vigorous pursual of justice for the people of Southeast Louisiana."
Alexander
Uballez
United States Attorney
District of New Mexico,
Department of Justice
Carla B.
Freedman
United States Attorney
Northern District of New York,
Department of Justice
Gary M. Restaino
United States Attorney
District of Arizona,
Department of Justice
Jesse
Laslovich
United States Attorney
District of Montana,
Department of Justice
On February 17, 2025, Mr. Laslovich was fired from his position as head of the Billings office. This was after Trump ordered the remaining Biden appointees gone.
"One of the things that really offended me was one of the memos from our new attorney general, Pam Bondi, where she called us the president's lawyers and that we're there to serve him, and we are not."
Darcie N.
McElwee
United States Attorney
District of Maine,
Department of Justice
Gregory
Haanstad
United States Attorney
Eastern District of Wisconsin,
Department of Justice
Zachary A.
Cunha
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island,
Department of Justice
On February 7, 2025, Mr. Cunha tendered his resignation effective February 21, 2025. However, Trump ordered the remaining Biden appointees gone on February 12th. He left his office on February 17, 2025 at the behest of the Trump Administration.
Adair Ford
Burroughs
United States Attorney
District of South Carolina,
Department of Justice
On February 18, 2025, Ms. Burroughs was fired. This was after Trump ordered the remaining Biden appointees gone.
"The career men and women of this office work tirelessly day in and day out to meet the Department’s mission–to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights. It has been my honor to support them in this critical and patriotic work however I could for as long as I could."
Roger B. Handberg
United States at Attorney, Middle District of Florida,
Department of Justice
Natalie K.
Wight
United States at Attorney, District of Oregon,
Department of Justice
William S.
Thompson
United States at Attorney, Southern District of West Virginia,
Department of Justice
Jaime E.
Esparza
United States at Attorney, Western District of Texas,
Department of Justice
Denise
Cheung
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On February 18, 2025, Interim Attorney General Ed Martin forced Ms. Cheung to resigned when she refused to order a freeze an environmental grant initiative. Her resignation letter can be found here.
"Because I believed that I lacked the legal authority to issue such a letter, I told you that I would not do so. You then asked for my resignation."
Kenneth L.
Parker
United States Attorney,
Southern District of Ohio,
Department of Justice
Rachelle Aud
Crowe
U.S. Attorney,
Southern District of Illinois,
Department of Justice
Ronald C.
Gathe, Jr.
U.S. Attorney,
Middle District of Louisiana,
Department of Justice
Gregory
Rosen
Chief,
Capitol Siege Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On February 28, 2025, Interim Attorney General Ed Martin demoted Mr. Rosen to an entry-level position for his role in the prosecutions against January 6th rioters.
John
Crabb
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Capitol Siege Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On February 28, 2025, Interim Attorney General Ed Martin demoted Mr. Crabb to an entry-level position for his role in the prosecutions against January 6th rioters. He prosecuted the Contempt of Congress charges against Steve Bannon.
Elizabeth
Aloi
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Capitol Siege Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On February 28, 2025, Interim Attorney General Ed Martin demoted Ms. Aloi to an entry-level position for her role in the prosecutions against January 6th rioters. She prosecuted the contempt of Congress charges against Peter Navarro.
Jason McCullough
Assistant US. Attorney,
Capitol Siege Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On February 28, 2025, Interim Attorney General Ed Martin demoted Mr. McCullough to an entry-level position for his role in the prosecutions against January 6th rioters. He prosecuted the case against the Enrique Tarrio and the Proud Boys.
Kate Rakoczy Kenerson
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Capitol Siege Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On February 28, 2025, Interim Attorney General Ed Martin demoted Ms. Kenerson to an entry-level position for her role in the prosecutions against January 6th rioters. She was the lead prosecutor on the case again Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers.
Bobak
Talebian
Director, Office of Information Policy,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
Elizabeth (Liz)
Oyer
U.S. Pardons Attorney,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
In early March, 2025, Ms. Oyer was asked to add a Trump supporter's name to a list of individuals seeking pardons. Based on a past history of domestic abuse and the short-time frame for careful vetting, she declined to recommend a pardon. On March 7, 2025, she was fired. In April, the night before she testified at a shadow hearing held by Democratic Congress members, two armed Special Deputy U.S. Marshals to deliver a letter to her home as an intimidation tactic.
"I felt that it was my obligation to share my concerns about the reckless, dangerous, and unethical use of Department resources to accomplish political objectives, including favors for loyalists and friends.”
Jeffrey
Ragsdale
Counsel, Office of Professional Responsibility, District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On March 7, 2025, Mr. Ragsdale was fired without cause. His unit's responsibilities included conducting internal investigations of potential prosecutorial misconduct.
His termination took place less than a month after State Democracy Defenders requested an investigation into Ed Martin's actions as Acting U.S. Attorney.
Tara
Twomey
Director, Executive
Office of the U.S. Trustee,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On March 7, 2025, Ms. Twomey was fired without cause. One of her unit's tasks included promoting integrity and efficiency in U.S. bankruptcy cases.
Ms. Twomey filed an adverse action appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) on March 21, 2025.
Adam W.
Cohen
Director, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On March 7, 2025, Mr. Cohen was fired without cause.
"I wasn’t a policy maker. I was an implementer. I never asked anyone what party they were in. I was a crime fighter – until yesterday."
Alex
Kristofcak
Assistant U.S. Attorney,
Southern District of New York,
Department of Justice
On March 7, 2025, Mr. Kristofcak was placed on administrative leave for a social media comment criticizing Acting Attorney General Ed Martin's "grotesque abuse of power" and characterized Martin as a "thug of a boss." He was subsequently fired.
"Speaking out may have cost me my position, but silence would have cost me much more."
Adam
Schleifer
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Central District of California,
Department of Justice
On March 28, 2025, Mr. Schleifer received an email terminating his employment. The email arrived an hour after a social media post by right-winger Laura Loomer called for him to be fired.
Michael Romano
Deputy Chief,
Capitol Siege Section,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
In late March or early April, 2025, Mr. Romano left his position. Mr. Romano was targeted by Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin for a demotion from his position in the Public Integrity Section of Criminal Division after the Capitol Siege Section was disbanded.
"...the rule of law is not just a concept, it is a process; it is something we do, not merely something we have. Laws on paper mean little without people doing the work of investigating, questioning, and arguing. Everyone who has fought hard to bring truth to light knows how challenging it is to do so."
Erez
Reuveni
Acting Director, Office of Immigration Litigation,
Civil Division,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On April 4, 2025, Mr. Reuveni spoke the truth to Judge Xinis about Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case and admitted the government made a mistake when they rendered Mr. Garcia to El Salvador due to an administrative error.
He was immediately placed on administrative leave and subsequently fired less than two weeks later.
Delia L.
Smith
United States Attorney,
District of the Virgin Islands,
Department of Justice
Timothy
Mygatt
Deputy Chief,
Special Litigation Section, Civil Rights Division, District of Columbia, Department of Justice
Mr. Mygatt resigned on April 16, 2025 when Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated there were going to be no career lawyers in the Civil Rights Division.
Celia V.
Cohen
Assistant U.S. District Attorney, Southern District of New York,
Department of Justice
Ms. Cohen, along with Mr. Rohrbach and Mr. Wikstrom, refused an order from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to drop the corruption case that sparked the first round of resignations in February, beginning with Danielle R. Sassoon.
Andrew Rohrbach
Assistant U.S. District Attorney, Southern District of New York,
Department of Justice
After their refusal, Mr. Rohrbach, Ms. Cohen and Mr. Wikstrom were placed on administrative leave. They submitted their joint resignations on April 22, 2025.
Derek Wikstrom
Assistant U.S. District Attorney, Southern District of New York,
Department of Justice
From their resignation letter:
"It is now clear that one of the preconditions you have placed on our returning to the office is that we must express regret and admit some wrongdoing. We will not confess wrong-doing when there was none."
Names not released
Over 100 attorneys and a similar number of other employees, Civil Rights Section, Department of Justice, all locations
Reported on April 28, 2025, due to the change in direction for the Civil Rights Section as ordered by the Trump Administration, over 200 employees and attorneys working within the Civil Rights Sections nationwide are reportedly taking the deferred resignation offer.
Vanita Gupta, former Section Chief and Senior Justice Official said:
"This is not simply a change in enforcement priorities — the division has been turned on its head and is now being used as a weapon against the very communities it was established to protect."
Cassie
Palmer
Chief, Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, Central District of California, Department of Justice
On May 2, 2025, Ms. Palmer resigned in protest following a "post-trial" plea agreement the Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Central California filed in a case where a felony conviction for excessive force by a law enforcement official who injured the victim had been obtained. The plea agreement would allow said felony to be dropped to a misdemeanor and recharacterize the events as the victim had attacked the law enforcement official, which did not occur.
Eli A.
Alcaraz
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, Central District of California, Department of Justice
On May 2, 2025, Mr. Alcaraz resigned in protest following a "post-trial" plea agreement the Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Central California filed in a case where a felony conviction for excessive force by a law enforcement official who injured the victim had been obtained. The plea agreement would allow said felony to be dropped to a misdemeanor and recharacterize the events as the victim had attacked the law enforcement official, which did not occur.
Brian R. Faerstein
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, Central District of California, Department of Justice
On May 2, 2025, Mr. Faerstein resigned in protest following a "post-trial" plea agreement the Interim U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California filed in a case where a felony conviction for excessive force by a law enforcement official who injured the victim had been obtained. The plea agreement would allow said felony to be dropped to a misdemeanor and recharacterize the events as the victim had attacked the law enforcement official, which did not occur.
Michael J. Morse
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, Central District of California, Department of Justice
On May 2, 2025, Mr. Morse removed his name as one of the prosecutors of the case where a "post-trial" plea agreement the new U.S. Attorney for the District of Central California filed in a case where a felony conviction for excessive force by a law enforcement official who injured the victim had been obtained. Mr. Morse's name does not appear on the plea agreement that would allow said felony to be dropped to a misdemeanor and re-characterize the events as the victim had attacked the law enforcement official, which did not occur.
Ben
Schrader
Chief, Criminal Division,
Middle District of Tennessee,
Department of Justice
On May 21, 2025, Mr. Schrader resigned his position. His resignation was the same day charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia were filed and sources say Mr. Schrader expressed concerns that the case was being pursued for political reasons.
“Earlier today, after nearly 15 years as an Assistant United States Attorney, I resigned as Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. District Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. It has been an incredible privilege to serve as a prosecutor with the Department of Justice, where the only job description I've ever known is to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons."
Joshua
Gardner
Special Counsel,
Federal Programs Branch,
District of Columbia,
Department of Justice
On June 3, 2025, Mr. Gardner resigned his position after twenty-one years. He had been working on a pending DOGE/USAID lawsuit.
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