DOJ aide urges prosecutors to adopt wartime posture or leave
On November 9, Aakash Singh, who serves as a top adviser to Blanche, told federal prosecutors in a conference call that the Justice Department was entering a “wartime” period through the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term. Two people familiar with the call said Singh urged prosecutors unwilling to pursue Trump’s priorities aggressively to consider resigning. He linked the posture to Democrats taking control of Congress in January and the prospect of investigations into the department.
Leah Foley, the U.S. attorney in Massachusetts, described Singh’s message as encouragement to stay focused on Trump’s agenda rather than Democratic investigations. The Justice Department spokesperson said the wartime reference concerned public safety and argued that some newly elected state and local officials were less willing to cooperate with federal law enforcement. The spokesperson said Singh did not threaten to force anyone out.
The remarks come amid a series of senior departures. The department has announced that three assistant attorneys general overseeing national security, civil rights and civil matters are leaving, along with four other political appointees. Sources said most departures were voluntary, while some officials were pushed out for not meeting the administration’s expectations. The spokesperson said vacancies would be filled quickly.
Accounts differed over why Jason Reding Quiñones was dismissed from his post leading the federal prosecutor’s office in Florida’s Southern District. Some people familiar with the decision said Trump was frustrated that Quiñones had not brought charges in a case targeting Obama administration officials over the investigation of Russian contacts with Trump’s first campaign. Another person said his travel and management of prosecutors were the issue. Former administration officials also pointed to Stephen Miller’s influence and his promotion to White House chief of staff as factors in the departures.
Trump’s DOJ tells prosecutors to prioritize his agenda or quit
The Justice Department’s new message to federal prosecutors is unmistakable: put President Donald Trump’s agenda first, or think about leaving. On November 9, Aakash Singh, an adviser to Blanche, told U.S. attorneys the department was on a “wartime” footing for Trump’s final two years and urged those unwilling to pursue his priorities aggressively to consider resigning.
Singh tied that posture to Democrats taking control of Congress in January and the investigations they may pursue. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley understood the call as a push to tune out Democratic scrutiny and keep advancing Trump’s agenda. The department says the wartime language was about public safety and insists Singh did not say anyone would be forced out. But the call came as officials overseeing national security, civil rights and civil matters, along with four other political appointees, departed.
The churn raises questions about whether the department’s work is being shaped by political demands. Some people familiar with the departures said Trump was dissatisfied with Jason Reding Quiñones, the Florida federal prosecutor, for failing to bring charges in a case targeting Obama-era officials over the Russia investigation. Another person disputed that account, citing his travel and management instead. Former administration officials also identified Stephen Miller’s growing influence as a factor. The department says vacancies will be filled quickly.
Democratic oversight looms as DOJ prosecutors face wartime demands
With Democrats preparing to take control of Congress and scrutinize the Justice Department, a top adviser to Blanche instructed federal prosecutors to prepare for a “wartime” period. On November 9, Aakash Singh urged U.S. attorneys who were unwilling to aggressively pursue President Donald Trump’s priorities to consider leaving. The warning reflects the pressure facing prosecutors as congressional oversight returns to Democratic hands in January.
The department says Singh’s reference to wartime concerned public safety, pointing to newly elected state and local officials in some districts who are less interested in partnering with federal law enforcement. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley described the call as a pep talk to stay focused on the administration’s work. The spokesperson stressed that nobody was told they would be forced out.
The warning arrives amid departures by three assistant attorneys general responsible for national security, civil rights and civil matters, as well as four other senior political appointees. While some people said officials were pushed out for failing to meet the president’s expectations, most departures were described as voluntary, with private-sector jobs among the reasons. Democrats’ anticipated investigations were also cited as a factor in officials’ decisions to leave. Disputes remain over why Florida U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones was removed: some tied it to the president’s frustration over a case targeting Obama administration officials, while another person cited his travel and management.
