Call by former DOJ chief of staff for pro-Trump federal prosecutor applicants draws scorn
A former U.S. Department of Homeland Security acting general counsel and former Department of Justice chief of staff under President Donald Trump has drawn ire and derision for his solicitation of pro-Trump lawyers to become assistant United States attorneys. (Image from Shutterstock)
A former U.S. Department of Homeland Security acting general counsel and former Department of Justice chief of staff under President Donald Trump has drawn ire and derision for his solicitation of pro-Trump lawyers to become assistant United States attorneys.
“If you are a lawyer, are interested in being an AUSA, and support President Trump and anti-crime agenda, DM me,” lawyer Chad Mizelle posted Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We need good prosecutors. And DOJ is hiring across the country. Now is your chance to join the mission and do good for our country.”
In response, Fox News contributor Andy McCarthy, a former chief assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, wrote on X that if support for Trump is now a condition of enforcing federal law, “Congress should defund DOJ.”
“DOJ should only exist if it’s nonpartisan,” McCarthy wrote. “Too dangerous to liberty otherwise. If AG Garland’s office had posted this, MAGA & GOP would be calling for impeachment.”
One X user pointed out that Mizelle’s DM’s weren’t open. Mizelle then responded that the problem was “Fixed!” Another user responded, “Coming to a highway near you,” along with an image of a billboard sign stating that assistant U.S. attorneys were wanted and to apply on X.
Assistant U.S. attorneys spots are usually considered plum assignments, but the DOJ has lost thousands of experienced attorneys since the start of Trump’s second term and has struggled to fill open positions.
Above the Law described Mizelle’s post as the “DOJ Begging for AUSAs on Twitter Like They’re Putting Together a Kickball League.” Newsweek also reported on the kerfuffle.
Mizelle did not return a request for comment by the ABA Journal.
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