The Department of Justice abruptly terminated at least three career prosecutors on Friday, June 27, 2025. The three played key roles in the prosecutions stemming from the January 6 Capitol riot. These include two supervisory attorneys from the Capitol Siege Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., as well as a line prosecutor directly handling riot-related cases.
The dismissals made effective immediately were executed via a letter signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, citing Article II of the Constitution and other U.S. laws but provided no detailed explanation. DOJ officials declined to comment further on the move.
This action follows a series of high-profile staffing changes in the Justice Department, including demotions in February by interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin and firings in January by former Acting Deputy AG Emil Bove. Those earlier moves primarily targeted temporary personnel brought in to bolster the Jan. 6 prosecution team.
Critics warn the latest purge may erode the civil service protections for career prosecutors and threaten the DOJ’s independence by replacing aides seen as less loyal to the Trump agenda. The move aligns with broader Trump administration efforts. Upon his return to office, former President Trump issued pardons or commutations to approximately 1,500 individuals who participated in the January 6 riot, including those convicted of seditious conspiracy, and actively removed officials involved in related prosecutions.
While most Jan. 6 cases are resolved, legal observers caution that the removal of seasoned prosecutors may chill future investigations or signals a shift in DOJ priorities on politically sensitive cases.
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