Six Attorneys at DOJ Resign over Corrupt Demand

[bats]

So, first, the acting US Attorney in the Southern District of New York, appointed by Trump after he took office on January 20th, resigned after she surprised the administration by adhering to principle rather than go along with a corrupt directive from her superiors in Washington, D.C.

In response, her superiors removed the case that was the subject of the directive to "Main Justice" in D.C., for lawyers there to carry out the corrupt directive. Five of those attorneys, too, stood on principle rather than comply.

Much more detail at the provided links, but suffice it to say that Trump is in the process of rewarding indicted New York Mayor Eric Adams by dismissing charges against Adams in exchange for political favors, and six of the attorneys who were ordered to do the dirty work told him to fuck right off.

[Hobby]

Interesting!  I wonder if New York state will go after Adams?

[bats]

An assistant U.S. attorney involved in the Adams prosecution has also resigned rather than be cowed into aiding Trump's corruption of DOJ. No libtard, this prosecutor received three bronze stars for his service as a troop commander in Iraq. He had some words for DOJ leadership on his way out:

There is a tradition in public service of resigning in a last-ditch effort to head off a serious mistake. Some will view the mistake you are committing here in the light of their generally negative views of the new Administration. I do not share those views. I can even understand how a Chief Executive whose background is in business and politics might see the contemplated dismissal-with-leverage as a good, if distasteful, deal.

But any assistant U.S. attorney would know that our laws and traditions do not allow using the prosecutorial power to influence other citizens, much less elected officials, in this way. If no lawyer within earshot of the President is willing to give him that advice, then I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to be me.

[Hobby]

Pretty stupid to quit a job because the boss said not to do something. When I worked my boss told me not to do something made me happy because I was always behind on other important work.  The only people hurt here are the prosecutors who resigned.

[Danno]

they morals and ethics

[bats]

Pretty stupid to quit a job because the boss said not to do something. When I worked my boss told me not to do something made me happy because I was always behind on other important work.  The only people hurt here are the prosecutors who resigned.

A prosecutor is a lawyer first, an employee second. As a lawyer he has an ethical obligation to render independent judgment.

Here, the acting U.S. attorney sent a letter informing Trump's goons at DOJ that the request was corrupt, yet it wasn't rescinded. At that point, the prosecutors had to resign if they believed they could no longer perform their duties ethically.

[HighStepper]

Pretty stupid to quit a job because the boss said not to do something. When I worked my boss told me not to do something made me happy because I was always behind on other important work.  The only people hurt here are the prosecutors who resigned.

Nope, It isn't about "not to do something." it's about doing something that is unprincipled. Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by a duly constituted grand jury. The case is in the District Court. She may have to lie in court to the judge as DOJ seeks a dismissal.

[dogwalker]

It's ridiculous.  Adams claims he can't be prosecuted because he has other more important things to do? 
Since when would an average person get to make such an excuse.  The rich and powerful win again.

[Hobby]

they morals and ethics

Standing up for morals and ethics won't keep food on the table now will it? It was the job of the prosecutors to prosecute not judge.  If their boss decides to violate morals and ethics it's on their boss not them.  Now they have resigned and have to find work that will pay what they made as federal prosecutor... good luck.

[bats]

Standing up for morals and ethics won't keep food on the table now will it? It was the job of the prosecutors to prosecute not judge. If their boss decides to violate morals and ethics it's on their boss not them.  Now they have resigned and have to find work that will pay what they made as federal prosecutor... good luck.

That's not how it works. As I've already said, lawyers have a duty to make independent judgments about their cases. They can't say they were just following orders.

This is one reason none of Trump's court cases* after the 2020 election went anywhere. Lawyers appeared in court on Trump's behalf, but they knew they could lose their licenses if they lied. So they didn't.

*They did win a very minor victory in a case in Pennsylvania.

[dogwalker]

Nope, It isn't about "not to do something." it's about doing something that is unprincipled. Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by a duly constituted grand jury. The case is in the District Court. She may have to lie in court to the judge as DOJ seeks a dismissal.

 I agree.  Fuck bosses who often had their own personal interests before mine.  I would NEVER (and never have) do what any boss told me just because they were the boss if I did not agree.  Abuse of power but that is what so many bosses now hope the weak will give in to.....

[Hobby]

That's not how it works. As I've already said, lawyers have a duty to make independent judgments about their cases. They can't say they were just following orders.

This is one reason none of Trump's court cases* after the 2020 election went anywhere. Lawyers appeared in court on Trump's behalf, but they knew they could lose their licenses if they lied. So they didn't.

*They did win a very minor victory in a case in Pennsylvania.

Trump caused delay after delay had nothing to do with lawyers lying or not.  Prosecutors drop cases all the time.  The DA and State Attorney General is in charge of prosecutions at state levels and the US AG is in charge of federal prosecutions.  Bondi ordered the prosecution to be halted its not up to subordinates to agree or not.  They are in a chain of command.

[bats]

Trump caused delay after delay had nothing to do with lawyers lying or not.  Prosecutors drop cases all the time.  The DA and State Attorney General is in charge of prosecutions at state levels and the US AG is in charge of federal prosecutions.  Bondi ordered the prosecution to be halted its not up to subordinates to agree or not.  They are in a chain of command.

It's true they are in a chain of command--each prosecutor has a duty to their boss.

But they have an even higher duty to their client. In the federal system a prosecutor's client is the people of the United States.

[Hobby]

It's true they are in a chain of command--each prosecutor has a duty to their boss.

But they have an even higher duty to their client. In the federal system a prosecutor's client is the people of the United States.

Yes and the AG decides what is best for the people of the US.  Bondi for whatever reason decided it's best for the people for Adams remain where he is.  But again that is not up to the prosecutors that resigned... when asked why they dropped the case they could have referred the questions to Bondi.

[HighStepper]

...Bondi ordered the prosecution to be halted its not up to subordinates to agree or not.  They are in a chain of command.

... when asked why they dropped the case they could have referred the questions to Bondi.

OMG, really? So, when in court before the judge, the attorney goes, shucks gee golly, I don't know, you have to ask Attorney General Bondi.