U.S. Attorney Behind January 6 Prosecutions Stepping Down Before Trump’s Inauguration

The U.S. attorney behind prosecutions in cases related to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, announced on Monday that he will step down before President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Matthew Graves, a longtime federal prosecutor who has held the role of U.S. attorney in the nation’s capital for a little more than three years, said he will resign effective January 16, four days before Inauguration Day. The principal assistant U.S. attorney in D.C., Bridget Fitzpatrick, is slated to become acting U.S. attorney after Graves departs.

“Serving as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia has been the honor of a lifetime,” Graves said in a statement. “I am deeply thankful to Congresswoman Holmes Norton for recommending me; to President Biden for nominating me; and to Attorney General Garland for placing his trust in me.”

Graves dealt with all sorts of issues during his stint as a U.S. attorney, ranging from those focused on national security matters to cryptocurrency. However, it was his record with January 6 cases that became a political lightning rod: the Department of Justice says nearly 1,600 defendants have been charged, many of whom pleaded guilty or were found guilty, and several hundred of them were sentenced to prison.

Some have been heavily critical of Graves, including Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who responded to the U.S. attorney stepping down by saying “the pawn at the helm of DOJ’s targeting of Joe Biden’s political opponents — just resigned ahead of President Trump’s inauguration,” and noting, “The Swamp knows that justice is coming.” (Read more from “U.S. Attorney Behind January 6 Prosecutions Stepping Down Before Trump’s Inauguration” HERE)

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