Prosecutorial-Independence

Eastern District of Virginia US Attorney Erik Siebert Resigns Under Trump Pressure to Charge Letitia James

| Importance: 9/10

On September 20, 2025, Erik Siebert resigned as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after President Trump publicly stated he wanted Siebert “out” following a monthslong mortgage fraud investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James that failed to produce …

Erik Siebert Donald Trump Department of Justice Letitia James Maya Song +1 more doj prosecutor-firing political-prosecution institutional-capture prosecutorial-independence +1 more
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Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Warns Rule of Law 'Under Attack Like Never Before'

| Importance: 8/10

On September 16, 2025, former Special Counsel Jack Smith delivered his first public remarks since leaving the Department of Justice in a speech at George Mason University, warning that “the rule of law is under attack like in no other period in our lifetimes.” NPR exclusively obtained a …

Jack Smith Department of Justice George Mason University Trump Administration doj rule-of-law institutional-capture political-prosecution special-counsel +1 more
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Trump Administration Systematically Removes DOJ Prosecutors

| Importance: 9/10

The Trump administration initiated a widespread purge of federal prosecutors, particularly those who previously investigated the president. Over 40 career prosecutors were fired without warning, with the acting attorney general claiming they could not be ’trusted to faithfully implement the …

James McHenry Michael Ben'Ary Jack Smith Donald Trump Department of Justice +1 more doj-weaponization prosecutorial-independence trump-administration political-retaliation rule-of-law +1 more
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Trump Administration Fires Prosecutors in Coordinated DOJ Purge

| Importance: 9/10

Acting Attorney General James McHenry systematically fired multiple Justice Department officials who worked on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump’s election interference and classified documents case. In termination letters, McHenry argued the officials could not be …

James McHenry Donald Trump Jack Smith Jamie Raskin Gerald Connolly doj-weaponization prosecutorial-independence trump-administration retaliation rule-of-law +1 more
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DOJ Overrules Prosecutors' Roger Stone Sentencing Recommendation After Trump Tweet

| Importance: 8/10

On February 20, 2020, federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Roger Stone, longtime Trump adviser and political operative, to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. The sentencing came at the conclusion of an unprecedented political controversy …

Roger Stone Donald Trump William Barr Aaron Zelinsky Jonathan Kravis +3 more DOJ Corruption Mueller Investigation Roger Stone Sentencing Barr Obstruction +2 more
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