Trump Administration Shake-Up Sparks Resignation of Top Federal Prosecutor
NEW YORK (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s efforts to assert greater control over the federal government have led to the resignation of a rising star in conservative legal circles. Danielle Sassoon, a career federal prosecutor and former clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, resigned on Thursday after refusing to comply with a Justice Department directive to drop a criminal corruption case against Democratic New York Mayor Eric Adams.
The Justice Department justified its decision by citing the upcoming November mayoral election, arguing that prosecuting Adams could interfere with his role in aiding Trump’s immigration crackdown—a key priority of the administration. Trump has denied personally ordering the charges to be dismissed.
Sassoon’s resignation underscores the growing tensions between the traditional conservative legal movement and Trump’s push to exert direct influence over federal agencies. This shift challenges long-standing norms of prosecutorial independence that have defined the Justice Department for over 50 years.
A Broader Reshaping of the Federal Government
Trump’s latest moves reflect his broader ambition to overhaul the federal government, including reshaping the criminal justice system, eliminating Cabinet departments, and pushing the limits of executive authority. His policies are expected to face legal challenges at the U.S. Supreme Court, where a conservative majority holds sway, though the extent to which the justices will constrain his authority remains uncertain.
Sassoon, 38, a member of the conservative Federalist Society, had served as acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) since January 21. Her resignation is part of a broader exodus, with at least six other Justice Department officials stepping down over the Adams case.
Among them is Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten, a former clerk for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. According to sources, the resignations reflect internal discord over what some see as a growing disregard for the Constitution within the administration.
Legal Scholars Express Concern
Ilya Somin, a libertarian legal scholar and Federalist Society member, criticized the Justice Department’s directive, warning that it signaled a shift in conservative legal values.
“There’s a divide between those who prioritize the rule of law and those willing to subordinate it for political considerations,” said Somin, a law professor at George Mason University. “This sets a dangerous precedent.”
Trump’s newly appointed Attorney General, Pam Bondi, has made it clear that Justice Department lawyers unwilling to align with the administration’s legal priorities risk termination.
Clash Over Prosecutorial Independence
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former Trump defense attorney and SDNY prosecutor, defended the directive to drop the case, accusing Sassoon and others of violating their oaths of office.
“You do not uphold the Constitution by disobeying direct orders that implement the policy of a duly elected President,” Bove wrote.
In response, Sassoon argued in her resignation letter to Bondi that a prosecutor’s duty is to enforce the law impartially.
“That includes prosecuting a validly returned indictment, regardless of whether its dismissal would be politically advantageous—to the defendant or to those who appointed me,” she wrote.
Scotten declined to comment.
Echoes of the 'Saturday Night Massacre'
The mass resignations have drawn comparisons to the 1973 “Saturday Night Massacre,” when senior Justice Department officials resigned rather than carry out President Richard Nixon’s order to fire the special counsel investigating the Watergate scandal.
Randy Barnett, a Georgetown University law professor, defended the Justice Department’s authority, arguing that Sassoon’s refusal to comply with a lawful directive left her with little recourse.
“Sassoon was refusing to execute a legal command from her DOJ superiors. This is what happens in that situation,” Barnett said. “It’s reasonable for Main Justice to exert control over its subordinates.”
Adams, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of accepting bribes from Turkish officials, has shown increasing alignment with Trump’s administration in recent months.
Sassoon also raised concerns over Bove’s suggestion that the case could be revived later, implying a potential political threat against Adams should he fail to support Trump’s immigration policies. Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, has denied any quid pro quo.
Escalating Internal Strife
Bove’s response to the resignations has intensified tensions within the Justice Department. In a rare move, he referred Sassoon, Scotten, and another prosecutor for internal investigations into possible misconduct.
Paul Tuchmann, a former public corruption prosecutor, warned that such actions send a chilling message:
“If you don’t follow orders exactly as Bove wants, you risk punishment—regardless of whether those orders are appropriate or ethical,” said Tuchmann, now a partner at Wiggin and Dana law firm.
The Justice Department has since transferred control of the Adams case from SDNY to its Washington, D.C., headquarters, a move that further underscores Trump’s influence over prosecutorial decision-making.
For now, Sassoon’s former deputy, Matthew Podolsky, has taken over her role. But legal experts believe further interventions by Trump appointees could prompt additional resignations.
“This is a defining moment for career prosecutors in SDNY,” said former federal prosecutor Michael Weinstein. “We may not have seen the last of the fallout.”
(Reporting by Jack Queen, Mike Spector, and Luc Cohen in New York; Sarah N. Lynch in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell)
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