Trump Administration Fires Dozens Of Federal Prosecutors In Justice Department Purge
In an unprecedented move, the White House has fired multiple U.S. attorneys across the country, signaling a dramatic shift in the Justice Department under President Donald Trump. The total number of dismissed prosecutors remains unclear, but at least 12 have confirmed their termination as part of what some are calling a DOJ purge.
Among those affected are several Senate-confirmed Biden nominees, including Tara McGrath of the Southern District of California, Ismail Ramsey of the Northern District of California, Erek L. Barron of Maryland, and Dena J. King of North Carolina. Additionally, Tessa Gorman, a court-appointed U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, was removed from her post.
A White House directive reportedly informed the prosecutors of their immediate dismissal. A letter from the Office of Presidential Personnel stated that their positions had been “terminated, effective immediately.” Such direct involvement from the White House in the removal of federal prosecutors is unusual, as these decisions are typically carried out by the Justice Department itself.
The move comes amid growing tensions between Trump and the federal law enforcement community. Since taking office, the administration has pardoned individuals convicted in January 6 cases and appointed an advocate for those defendants as the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. In addition, the administration has sought lists of FBI personnel involved in investigating the Capitol protest cases, fueling speculation about further dismissals.
Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas revealed that Jonathan Ross, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, was initially terminated but later reinstated after he intervened with senior White House officials.
The firings have raised concerns over the stability of ongoing federal investigations, as many of the terminated attorneys were involved in high-profile cases. The Justice Department has not issued an official statement on the scope of the dismissals, leaving many questions unanswered.
