The Trump administration has dismissed at least three Justice Department prosecutors involved in the January 6 Capitol riot cases, according to sources familiar with the matter. Among those fired were two supervisory attorneys and one line prosecutor who handled criminal proceedings related to the attack. Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly signed one of the termination letters without providing a specific reason, only citing constitutional authority under Article II.
These firings are part of a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has targeted attorneys involved in prosecuting Trump supporters or the former president. In February, several key prosecutors from the Capitol Siege Section, including those who helped secure convictions against extremist leaders Stewart Rhodes and Enrique Tarrio, were reassigned by interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin.
Earlier, in January, then-acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove terminated about two dozen prosecutors hired under the Biden administration. Bove claimed these individuals were improperly converted from temporary to permanent positions following Trump’s 2024 election win, describing the move as a “subversive personnel action.” The Justice Department has not publicly commented on these firings or provided details about any internal investigations.
This shake-up coincides with Trump’s sweeping pardons of over 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol riot. These pardons included convictions for serious offenses like seditious conspiracy and assaults on law enforcement. The firings raise concerns about how ongoing investigations into January 6 may be impacted, though several complex cases remain unresolved.
Separately, the Justice Department filed an unprecedented lawsuit against all 15 federal district judges in Maryland. The suit challenges a court order halting deportations for 48 hours when detainees file habeas corpus petitions. DOJ argues this delay violates federal authority, while Chief Judge George Russell III cited logistical challenges due to rising habeas petitions.
