Trump Administration Faces Scrutiny as Key Terrorism Prosecutors Removed
WASHINGTON D.C. - A series of recent personnel changes within the Department of justice is raising concerns about the Trump administration’s commitment to prosecuting foreign terrorism suspects, with veteran prosecutors specializing in national security cases being sidelined or removed from their positions.The departures of these officials, including Michael Ben’Ary adn Erik Siebert, coupled with the impending departure of long-time National Security Division figure Matthew Toscas, are fueling accusations of politically motivated interference in critical terrorism cases.
The latest development involves Michael ben’Ary, a 20-year veteran prosecutor, who was dismissed from his role on the case against Mohammad Sharifullah, a.k.a. Jafar, accused of aiding the 2021 ISIS-K suicide bombing at Kabul‘s airport that killed 13 American service members and over 160 Afghans. Ben’Ary stated in a letter that his dismissal “will hurt this case,” arguing that “Justice for Americans killed and injured by our enemies should not be contingent on what someone in the department of Justice sees in their social media feed that day.”
The Jafar case, assigned to the Eastern District of Virginia – a key jurisdiction for terrorism prosecutions due to its concentration of national-security agencies – marks the second time the Trump administration has attempted to prosecute a foreign terrorism suspect in U.S. criminal court for killings of american service members in a war zone.
adding to the concerns, Matthew Toscas, a highly influential figure within the Justice Department, is also leaving his post. Colleagues describe Toscas as “tougher and more demanding than anyone else at the department,” with his approval considered almost a prerequisite for cases gaining traction with the Attorney General and even the President. notably, Toscas was involved in the 2010 case of Spin Ghul, where the jury acquitted him of 284 out of 285 charges – a case that reportedly weighed on Toscas.
The removal of these experienced prosecutors follows the forced resignation of U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who was ousted by Trump for refusing to support a politically charged case against New York attorney General Letitia James. Siebert was replaced by Lindsey Halligan, a former insurance attorney from Florida, who, according to The New York Times, appeared unfamiliar with courtroom procedure when tasked with indicting james.
These personnel decisions have sparked criticism that the Justice Department is prioritizing political loyalty over prosecutorial expertise. “No one can credibly argue that the Justice Department’s recent personnel decisions are based on a lack of prosecutorial excellence,” the article states, concluding that the political removal of these civil servants “makes the United States and the world less safe.”
