According to sources familiar with the matter, Denise Cheung, the head of the criminal division within the DC US Attorney’s Office, has resigned from her position. This development follows the recent nomination of Ed Martin by President Donald Trump to lead the prosecutor’s office. Martin, who has been serving in an interim capacity, has expressed support for dismissing all criminal cases related to the January 6 events.
It was revealed that Martin, during his tenure, had tasked Cheung and another career prosecutor to review the felony obstruction charges filed against January 6 rioters, a decision that was later overturned by the Supreme Court. Cheung bid farewell to her colleagues in an office-wide message on Tuesday morning, without specifying the reasons for her departure.
Cheung’s exit coincides with a period of significant upheaval within the Department of Justice, marked by the dismissal of prosecutors deemed untrustworthy and clashes between Trump-appointed officials and long-standing federal prosecutors. In her farewell email, Cheung emphasized the importance of upholding the Constitution and expressed confidence in the integrity of her colleagues.
Her departure underscores the ongoing tensions and changes within the DOJ, as political influences continue to shape decision-making processes. The implications of these developments on the operations and morale of the DC US Attorney’s Office remain to be seen.
