A major shake-up is happening inside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Washington, D.C., as several senior federal prosecutors who handled high-profile cases—including those tied to the January 6 insurrection—have been demoted in what insiders believe is a move to push them to resign.
At the center of the controversy is Ed Martin, the interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., who was appointed by former President Donald Trump. His decision to reassign veteran prosecutors to minor cases has raised concerns that the Justice Department may be purging officials who played key roles in prosecuting Trump’s allies and supporters.
Who’s Been Demoted—And Why It Matters
Among those demoted and reassigned to low-level misdemeanor cases are:
- Kathryn Rakoczy, who led prosecutions against the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia group convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection to the Jan. 6 attack.
- Elizabeth Aloi, who led public corruption and civil rights cases, including investigations into former Trump administration officials.
- Jason McCullough, a prosecutor in the Proud Boys trials, which resulted in some of the longest sentences for Jan. 6 defendants.
For these seasoned prosecutors, the sudden demotions send a clear message: their work on politically sensitive cases may have made them targets under the new administration.
Is This a Political Purge?
According to Justice Department insiders, these moves are not about performance, but rather an effort to make these prosecutors quit voluntarily by sidelining them into low-impact roles.
“This isn’t about efficiency or restructuring,” said one anonymous Justice Department official. “These are people who took on the hardest cases—cases that held powerful people accountable. Now, they’re being pushed out.”
Wider Concerns About the Justice Department
This isn’t the first time government officials linked to Trump-related investigations have faced sudden shake-ups:
- James Dennehy, the head of the FBI’s New York field office, was forced to resign last month without explanation.
- The Justice Department has demanded a list of agents involved in the Jan. 6 investigation, fueling speculation of upcoming mass firings.
The pattern has alarmed legal experts, with some warning that these moves threaten the independence of the Justice Department and could be politically motivated payback.
What Happens Next?
With the demotions in place, the question now is how many of these prosecutors will stay?
Some insiders believe more resignations are coming, while legal experts warn that removing career officials from politically sensitive cases could weaken future investigations.
Meanwhile, Martin and the Justice Department have remained silent, refusing to comment on whether these moves are a routine reshuffling—or something more deliberate.