Trump administration fires 3 prosecutors involved in Jan. 6 cases: Reports

The Trump administration has fired at least three Justice Department prosecutors involved in the criminal cases stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, according to two people familiar with the matter. The move is the latest in a growing pattern of dismissals targeting attorneys who worked on cases against Trump supporters or the former president himself.

The prosecutors dismissed reportedly include two supervisory attorneys who oversaw Capitol riot prosecutions at the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, along with a third line attorney who helped prosecute individual cases. 

The Associated Press reviewed a termination letter issued to one of the attorneys, signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The letter did not explain the decision, citing only constitutional authority under Article II.

Who was fired and why?

What we know:

The firings were confirmed by two individuals who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel decisions. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.

The dismissals come months after similar moves. In February, interim U.S. attorney Ed Martin demoted several key figures from the department’s Capitol Siege Section. Those affected included prosecutors who helped secure seditious conspiracy convictions against prominent extremist leaders Stewart Rhodes and Enrique Tarrio.

In January, then-acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove terminated about two dozen prosecutors hired under the Biden administration for temporary assignments related to Jan. 6 but converted to permanent roles after Trump’s 2024 election win. Bove accused the prior administration of "subversive personnel actions."

What we don't know:

The DOJ has not formally explained the rationale behind the latest firings or disclosed whether more dismissals are planned. It is unclear whether any internal reviews preceded the decisions or whether additional Capitol riot prosecutors remain under scrutiny.

What is the broader context?

The backstory:

The firings come against the backdrop of Trump’s sweeping pardons of more than 1,500 individuals convicted in connection with the Capitol riot. On his first day back in office, Trump commuted or pardoned sentences for those convicted of crimes ranging from trespassing to seditious conspiracy and violent assaults on police.

Jan. 6 defendants barred from Washington DC

A federal judge says eight of the Jan. 6 defendants who had their sentences commuted by President Donald Trump this week are barred from entering the capitol and Washington, D.C. area without permission from the court. The order includes notable figures like Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio.

Since returning to the White House, Trump and his Justice Department leadership have taken aggressive steps to remake the department, especially targeting lawyers involved in prosecutions related to Jan. 6 or Trump’s own legal battles. Critics have raised alarm about what they describe as the erosion of DOJ independence and civil service norms.

What they're saying:

While the Justice Department has not commented on the firings, legal experts and government watchdogs have previously warned that political interference in career staffing decisions threatens to undermine trust in the judicial system.

Democratic lawmakers and former DOJ officials have also expressed concerns over the administration’s moves to sideline or remove attorneys viewed as politically disloyal or connected to cases involving the former president and his allies.

What's next:

It remains unclear how the removal of key prosecutors will affect any remaining open Jan. 6-related cases. While the majority of those charged have already been sentenced or pardoned, ongoing investigations into broader networks or financial ties remain on the books, at least formally.

Legal analysts say the firings may have a chilling effect on the DOJ’s willingness to pursue politically sensitive cases going forward.