All articles tagged with #us attorneys office
A judge praised prosecutors who were placed on leave after controversy surrounding their handling of a case involving Taranto, who was convicted of hoax and firearm charges; the case involved secretive legal filings and internal disputes within the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Maurene Comey, a former federal prosecutor and daughter of James Comey, has sued the Trump administration, claiming her firing without cause or due process was unlawful and politically motivated, seeking reinstatement and back pay.
Alina Habba, appointed as interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey by Donald Trump, has reportedly damaged morale within the office and is expected to leave soon due to unlikely Senate confirmation and potential judicial review of her appointment. Her tenure was marked by controversy, including her high-profile defense of Trump, her perceived favoritism, and her management style, which drew criticism from prosecutors and colleagues. She has already bid farewell to the office amid these challenges.
Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor involved in the Epstein case and daughter of James Comey, was fired from the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, possibly due to her family connections and political tensions. Her role included prosecuting Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and her dismissal occurs amid ongoing controversy and investigations related to Epstein's death and associated figures.
Six individuals, including current and former Massachusetts State Police troopers, have been arrested and charged in a 74-count indictment for their involvement in a bribery conspiracy that guaranteed passing scores on commercial driver's license exams to applicants. The suspects are accused of conspiring to provide these passing scores. The U.S. Attorney's Office will provide further details about the arrests later today.
The Tohono O'odham Nation in Arizona criticized the decision by the U.S. Attorney's Office not to prosecute Border Patrol agents who shot and killed a member of the tribe. Body camera footage showed that the agents were concerned the 58-year-old man may have been armed, but no firearm was found. The tribe called the decision a "travesty of justice" and may seek Congressional inquiries into the incident. The U.S. Attorney's Office stated that the agents' use of force did not constitute a federal criminal civil rights violation or a criminal violation under Arizona law. The Tohono O'odham Nation is protesting the decision and demanding answers.
Krystal Diane Pinkins has been found guilty of murder, robbery, and unlawful use of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with the 2022 killing of a college student in Alabama. Pinkins helped plan the robbery, provided the gun used to kill the victim, and watched the incident unfold before fleeing. Her accomplice, Yasmine Marie Adel Hider, who shot and killed the victim, is expected to plead guilty. Pinkins faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the murder charge.
Bodycam footage shows Joseph Ruddy, a federal drug prosecutor, offering his U.S. Justice Department business card to police officers during a DUI hit-and-run arrest in Florida. Ruddy, who appeared heavily intoxicated, allegedly attempted to use his position to mitigate the consequences of the crash. Despite being charged, he remained on the job for two months before being pulled off pending criminal cases. The case has been referred to the Office of Inspector General, and an investigation will likely focus on whether Ruddy improperly used his public office for personal gain.
A man who intervened as a woman was being carjacked at a gas station in Northeast D.C. stabbed the suspect to death and will not face charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Surveillance footage showed a minute-long struggle between the suspect and the woman before the man intervened. The suspect got away with the car but crashed into two other vehicles and died at the scene. Motor vehicle thefts are up 105% this year in D.C.