• Justice Department ousts three prosecutors linked to Jan. 6 riot cases.
• Dismissals include two supervisory attorneys and a line prosecutor.
• No specific reasons cited for removals, referencing the Constitution instead.

The Justice Department has terminated at least three prosecutors associated with the U.S. Capitol riot criminal cases, marking a significant political shift under the Trump administration. Those dismissed include two supervisory attorneys from the U.S. attorney's office in Washington and a line prosecutor directly involved in the prosecutions related to the January 6, 2021, insurrection. These terminations, effective immediately, were confirmed by sources speaking on condition of anonymity, according to HuffPost, Los Angeles Times, and India Times.

A termination letter received by one of the prosecutors was signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, citing “Article II of the United States Constitution and the laws of the United States,” yet did not provide specific reasons for the dismissals. The Justice Department declined to comment further on the matter, which has raised alarms over potential political motivations behind these actions, according to HuffPost and Los Angeles Times.

The firings are seen as part of a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has been accused of undermining the Justice Department's independence from political influence. Reports indicate that other professionals associated with the Jan. 6 prosecutions have been demoted or let go, correlating with former President Trump's controversial pardons of the rioters. These pardons affected more than 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol breach, raising fears of retaliation against those who prosecuted these cases, as highlighted by India Times and Los Angeles Times.

Previously, Ed Martin, while serving as interim U.S. attorney, had demoted multiple prosecutors involved in the Jan. 6 cases, including those securing seditious conspiracy convictions against leaders of far-right groups. The dismissals reflect a continuing tension within the Justice Department regarding loyalty and political influence, echoing prior actions taken by former Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove in January when he ordered the firings of approximately two dozen prosecutors initially brought in to assist with Jan. 6 cases, as reported by HuffPost and India Times.