In the latest shake-up within Washington’s legal circles, interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin has demoted several senior leaders in the federal prosecutors’ office to roles handling misdemeanors or other minor tasks. This decision has come as a surprise and adds to the existing tension stemming from previous dismissals of several lawyers involved in prosecuting cases related to the U.S. Capitol attack. At least seven experienced prosecutors, who had been working on high-profile and politically sensitive cases, including those related to the January 6 riot and involving Trump associates Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon, have been reassigned, according to sources.
An email informed the affected prosecutors that they would now work on misdemeanor cases or be transferred to the Early Case Assessment Section, which handles preliminary court procedures and evaluates new cases. Martin emphasized in this communication that this is a permanent change, noting the importance of misdemeanor work and the need for assistance in this area.
The spokesperson for the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office did not immediately comment on the reassignments, and it remains unclear who will step into the roles vacated by these experienced supervisors. Among those demoted is Greg Rosen, formerly the chief of the Capitol siege section, who has played a crucial role in prosecuting cases linked to the January 6, 2021, riot. Others affected include two lawyers who helped secure convictions for seditious conspiracy against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio.
John Crabb, a seasoned supervisor known for his involvement in notable cases, including those grown out of the attack on the diplomatic compound in Benghazi and recent cases against Navarro and Bannon, was another prominent figure to be reassigned. Elizabeth Aloi, the chief of the public corruption and civil rights unit, who prosecuted Navarro on contempt of Congress charges, is also among those demoted.
Since his appointment as interim U.S. attorney last month, Ed Martin, a conservative activist who has supported Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud in 2020, has been pivotal in the office’s transformation. He has controversially referred to federal prosecutors as the “president’s lawyers” and prompted the resignation of the head of the office’s criminal division following disagreements over scrutinizing a government contract awarded during the Biden administration.
President Donald Trump recently announced that he plans to nominate Martin for the U.S. attorney position permanently, a decision subject to Senate confirmation. Trump praised Martin for his performance as interim U.S. Attorney, commending his efforts to reinstate law and order and his commitment to making the nation’s capital secure and attractive once more.
