On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, MSNBC reported that Denise Cheung, the head of the criminal division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., resigned in protest against actions taken by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ). Cheung’s resignation is part of a larger pattern of departures from the DOJ amid allegations of undue pressure from political appointees.

Cheung’s resignation followed a controversial directive from the DOJ to initiate a criminal investigation regarding a contract awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during President Joe Biden’s administration. The request for an investigation came from acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who reportedly sought to freeze bank assets linked to the contract while launching the inquiry. Cheung determined that there was no legal basis for such drastic measures.

In her resignation letter, Cheung expressed her concerns about the legitimacy of the actions being requested. She stated that she was asked to review documentation from the Office of the Deputy Attorney General regarding the potential investigation. Despite her assessment that the evidence did not warrant the opening of a grand jury investigation, Bove insisted that sufficient grounds existed, citing a video containing statements from a former political appointee.

Cheung described the pressure she faced from both Bove and her supervisor, acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, a Trump appointee. In her letter, she recounted being instructed to issue a letter to a bank prohibiting the release of funds related to the investigation, which she believed lacked the necessary legal justification. When Cheung refused to comply, citing her belief that the evidence did not support such an order, she was asked to resign.

This incident is part of a broader trend within the DOJ, where at least seven prosecutors resigned the previous week rather than facilitate what they viewed as unethical actions connected to Trump’s dealings with New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Allegations emerged that the DOJ sought to drop federal bribery charges against Adams in exchange for his cooperation on immigration policies, claims which both Bove and Adams’ legal team have denied.

Cheung’s departure highlights the tension between career prosecutors and political appointees within the DOJ. Many prosecutors, including those who initially supported the Trump administration, have reportedly resisted directives they consider illegal or morally questionable. Cheung’s resignation is emblematic of the challenges faced by officials committed to upholding the law amidst political pressures.

The Justice Department responded to Cheung’s resignation, stating that her refusal to comply with a basic request to pause an investigation to assess potential waste of government funds was a failure to follow the chain of command.

The fallout from these events raises questions about the future of the DOJ under Trump’s leadership, especially as he continues to exert influence over the agency. The environment within the DOJ has become increasingly fraught, as the administration seeks to implement its policies while navigating legal and ethical standards.

Cheung’s resignation underscores the broader implications of political interference in the justice system, as officials grapple with the balance between their professional obligations and the directives from political superiors. As the landscape of the DOJ shifts, the ability of career prosecutors to operate independently remains a critical concern.

 

 

Source: MSNBC