Veteran Prosecutor Alleges Political Retaliation in DOJ Firing
A high-ranking national security prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia has publicly alleged his abrupt dismissal was a direct consequence of political pressure, stemming from a social media denunciation by a prominent January 6 conspiracy theorist. Michael Ben’Ary, a seasoned federal prosecutor, communicated his concerns to colleagues in a farewell note affixed to his office door on Friday, claiming his termination earlier this week was rooted in false information.
Ben’Ary, who was fired on Wednesday, suggested his removal was triggered by a social media post from Julie Kelly, a pro-Trump commentator. Kelly, known for controversial remarks—including once labeling a Capitol police officer beaten during the January 6 Capitol riot a “crisis actor”—had publicly insinuated that Ben’Ary was an ally of Lisa Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General. Monaco is a senior Justice Department official who played a key role in the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s involvement in the Capitol riot.
A Controversial Departure Amidst Critical Cases
“It appears that my termination was based on little more than a single social media post containing false information,” Ben’Ary stated in his note. He further criticized the department’s priorities, writing, “The leadership is more concerned with punishing the President’s perceived enemies than they are with protecting our national security.” This assertion points to a troubling focus on political optics over the core mission of justice, according to Ben’Ary.
The prosecutor expressed profound dismay at being removed mid-task from significant national security operations. “I am troubled that I was removed so abruptly in the middle of important work,” Ben’Ary emphasized. He specifically highlighted his central role in the prosecution of an individual suspected of being a member of the Islamic State’s Afghan branch (ISIS-K). This suspect is accused of orchestrating the devastating suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate entrance to the Kabul airport in August 2021, an attack that tragically claimed the lives of 13 American service members and scores of Afghan civilians during the U.S. withdrawal.
A Pattern of Political Interference?
Charges against the alleged orchestrator of the Abbey Gate attack were publicly announced in March. At that time, Erik Siebert, who was then the interim U.S. attorney, named Ben’Ary and Troy Edwards as the two assistant U.S. attorneys leading the high-profile prosecution. Intriguingly, all three career prosecutors involved in this critical case are now no longer with the department, reportedly for political reasons, painting a concerning picture of politically motivated departures within the Justice Department.
Siebert, for instance, was reportedly forced out by the Trump administration for his refusal to bring charges against former FBI Director James Comey, citing an insufficient amount of evidence to prove any crime. Similarly, Troy Edwards, another national security prosecutor and Comey’s son-in-law, resigned after a former Trump aide was installed in a key position. These successive departures raise serious questions about the independence and integrity of career prosecutors handling sensitive cases, especially those with perceived political implications.
Source: The Guardian
