WASHINGTON — A high-ranking official in the federal prosecutors’ office in Washington has announced her resignation after a disagreement with her superior regarding an order to investigate a government contract from the Biden administration. This revelation comes from a resignation letter that outlines the circumstances behind her decision.
Denise Cheung, who has a long history with the Justice Department and served as the head of the office’s criminal division, stated that interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin directed her to implement a freeze on assets connected to the contract and to proceed with issuing grand jury subpoenas. Cheung expressed her belief that there was not enough justification for these actions.
In her letter, Cheung explained that Martin requested her resignation after she resisted his instructions to inform a bank to withhold funds from specific accounts linked to an ongoing criminal investigation. Cheung asserted that she did not have the legal authority to send such a request to the bank, highlighting that the evidence available at the time did not warrant such a move.
The letter detailing Cheung’s conflict with Martin did not offer specifics about the contract or which federal agency was involved. Representatives from both the U.S. attorney’s office and the Justice Department chose not to comment on the matter, with the Justice Department emphasizing that disobeying orders is not considered commendable.
This incident adds to a series of tumultuous events within the Justice Department, leading to the resignation of dedicated officials unwilling to comply with directives from the Trump administration. Cheung refrained from specifying her reasons for leaving in an email to her colleagues, instead urging them to persist in their dedication to “pursuing justice without fear or prejudice.”
In her email shared with others, Cheung reaffirmed her commitment to the Constitution, stating, “I took an oath of office to support and defend the Constitution, and I have executed this duty faithfully during my tenure, which has spanned through numerous Administrations.” She emphasized the importance of adhering to facts, law, and ethical obligations.
Cheung’s resignation occurred just one day after President Trump announced plans to nominate Martin for the permanent position of U.S. attorney for D.C. Martin has a history of supporting those involved in the January 6 Capitol riots and has publicly backed Trump’s unfounded claims regarding the stolen 2020 election. He has been serving as the interim U.S. attorney since last month.
Recently, Martin tasked Cheung with conducting an internal review concerning the felony charges filed against numerous Capitol rioters, labeling the handling of these charges a significant failure within the office. Following that, he instructed attorneys to compile all relevant materials for Cheung and another supervisor.
Cheung’s departure adds to an ongoing trend of reshuffling within the Justice Department, which has faced a wave of firings, resignations, and forced transfers following Trump’s inauguration in January. Just last week, Manhattan’s lead federal prosecutor, Danielle Sassoon, resigned in protest after a directive was issued to drop corruption charges against former New York Mayor Adams, causing several senior officials from the public integrity section to resign in solidarity after being directed to take over the case.
