Pirro's DC Office Dismisses 21% of Cases in 8 Weeks vs 0.5% Over Previous Decade

Federal Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui reveals an unprecedented collapse in prosecutorial standards under U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s leadership in Washington D.C. Of the over 4,000 cases charged by complaint between 2014 and 2024, DOJ moved to dismiss fewer than 20—less than 0.5%. In just eight weeks under Pirro, the office has charged 95 cases and dismissed 20 of them—a 21% dismissal rate representing a 40-fold increase.

On top of the dismissals, grand juries have issued at least seven “no-bills” (refusals to indict) in the past month alone, including:

• Sean Dunn (“Sandwich Man”): Caught on video throwing a sandwich at an ICE agent; grand jury refused to indict
• Sidney Reid: Three separate grand juries refused to indict for felony assault on an ICE agent; case converted to misdemeanor after jurors “found no probable cause”
• Alvin Summers: Grand jury refused to indict for allegedly assaulting a U.S. Park Police officer

Judge Faruqui issues scathing rebukes of prosecutorial conduct. On an illegal gun search of a Black man stopped at Trader Joe’s: “It is without a doubt the most illegal search I’ve ever seen in my life.” On another case: “I’m absolutely flabbergasted at what has happened. A high school student would know this was an illegal search.”

The judge warns the pattern is destroying trust between courts and prosecutors: “This is not going to work. Complaints will not be signed. We’re past the Rubicon,” predicting magistrate judges will refuse to issue warrants without cross-examining declarants.

Cases are being dismissed for Fourth Amendment violations, physical abuse of defendants, and improper charges against officers—including DC police and out-of-state National Guard members improperly designated as federal officers. Half of Pirro’s prosecutors have quit or been fired, yet she has directed remaining staff to “charge the highest crime that is supported by the law and the evidence.”