Prosecutor Quits Over Trump Appointee's Dubious Orders

A seasoned federal prosecutor decided to step down from her position rather than follow what she saw as questionable instructions from Trump-appointed officials. Denise Cheung, who had been with the Justice Department for over two decades and led the criminal division in Washington D. C. , felt that the orders she received lacked solid evidence. Cheung was asked to look into a possible illegal contract awarded by an executive agency during Joe Biden's presidency. The request came from the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, led by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove. The resignation letter did not specify the exact contracts in question, but sources mentioned environmental grants issued during Biden's term. The resignation comes at a time when the Justice Department is facing internal turmoil. In a recent event, seven prosecutors resigned after being asked to drop a case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. They described the move as improper and politically driven. In the D. C. U. S. Attorney's Office, Martin, who has been a vocal supporter of unfounded election conspiracy theories and an advocate for Jan. 6 defendants, disbanded the unit investigating Capitol rioters and launched a review of their work. Cheung was told that the issue was urgent and that action needed to be taken immediately. She consulted with colleagues and assessed that the documents provided did not meet the threshold for opening a grand jury investigation. However, an ODAG representative believed there was enough evidence to proceed. The situation escalated when Cheung was informed that the ODAG representative would work directly with a federal prosecutor, bypassing the D. C. U. S. Attorney's Office. A "freeze letter" was suggested to halt certain assets, but Cheung felt the language used was not appropriate for the case. Cheung contacted a supervisor in the FBI Washington Field Office to discuss possible criminal charges and the sufficiency of the evidence. The FBI agreed to send a freeze letter to the bank, but Cheung expressed concern about the lack of evidence. She was told that if the FBI did not send the letter, someone from the USAO-DC would be directed to do so. After the FBI sent the letter, Cheung received a call from Martin and one of his top aides. They expressed dissatisfaction with the FBI's letter and ordered a second letter to be sent to the bank, demanding that no funds be released. Cheung refused, stating that the evidence did not support such action. Cheung's resignation letter highlighted her commitment to her oath and her belief in following the facts and the law. She expressed her pride in serving as an AUSA and her confidence that her colleagues would uphold their moral, ethical, and legal obligations. Trump announced his intention to make Martin the permanent U. S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Martin, who was still listed as a defense attorney for Jan. 6 defendants until recently, has been acting U. S. attorney for Washington since Inauguration Day. Trump's announcement came shortly after Martin announced an investigation into former special counsel Jack Smith over pro bono legal help he received from a private law firm. Martin, in a speech before the Jan. 6 attack, called on "die-hard true Americans" to work until their "last breath" to "stop the steal. " Neither Martin nor the U. S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia immediately responded to requests for comment.