Former DOJ Prosecutors’ Support for DOJ Prosecutors on Receiving End of Retribution or Other Inappropriate Action from Trump Administration (2/18/25)

I link here a letter from DOJ Prosecutors in support of DOJ attorneys who have been on the receiving end of retribution or other inappropriate action from the Trump Administration. The letter is short--one full page and one short page in communicating the content of the support; the letter then has 39 pages of signatures for former DOJ Prosecutors, listing the DOJ (including AUSA) roles they served. (Among the names listed are those who served in the DOJ Tax Division; can be reviewed by a pdf search for “Tax Division”.)

The letter starts with a statement of values and then states:

Against this backdrop, we have watched with alarm as these values have been tested by recent actions of the Department’s leadership. Some of you have been ordered to make charging decisions based expressly on considerations other than the facts and the law, including to serve solely political purposes. Some of you have been forced to consider whether your actions will result in the elimination of the  Public Integrity Section, created in the wake of the Watergate scandal, and whose vital work is intended to protect the public from government corruption. Several of you have resigned, and others are wondering what will happen to the Department we served and revere.

To all of you, we communicate this: We salute and admire the courage many of you have already exhibited, and that will guide all of you as you continue to serve the interests of justice. You have responded to ethical challenges of a type no public servant should ever be forced to confront with principle and conviction, in the finest traditions of the Department of Justice. We know there will be more challenges ahead, and we have no doubt that those of you who continue to serve will uphold the Department’s values for the sake of the rule of law, just as you have always done. Please know that when you do, generations of former federal prosecutors are watching with pride and admiration and stand ready to support you in this honorable pursuit.

The letter is arranged through the Justice Connection, here. I encourage readers of this blog to go to that website to see how you can contribute. Also, here is a "Toolkit" prepared by Justice Connctions that readers can down load for some ideas.

JAT Note: I was asked to participate by authorizing my signature, but I read the opportunity as being for former DOJ prosecutors. My service with DOJ Tax was Civil Appellate and Civil Trial. However, I do see that some with DOJ civil work only may be signatories.

I do say that I share the affection for the DOJ Tax Division in which I served and for all of DOJ significant parts of which I interacted during my service. The career attorneys and not-career attorneys along side whom I served were good lawyers and ethical lawyers. The only time I ever perceived some possible political interference in my work there, I pushed back and refused to do what was asked of me (the ask was indirect, leaving no doubt that it was a powerful ask with limited ability to trace to the source). No punishment was inflicted for the refusal, nor did I ever fear for punishment for the refusal. I knew I had the support of the Tax Division. I have never worked with a finer group of people. And I do include in the groups I have worked my Army companies in Basic and Advanced Infantry Training in 1960 with whom I was proud to serve.