Two federal prosecutors in D.C. just got benched by the Justice Department for daring to call the Jan. 6 Capitol events a "riot" by a "mob" in court documents, as CBS News reports.
In a nutshell, the Justice Department placed these two prosecutors on leave after their sentencing memo in the case of pardoned Capitol protestor Taylor Taranto sparked controversy with its blunt language about that fateful day.
This drama unfolded on Tuesday when the original filing was submitted, painting a vivid picture of Taranto’s past involvement in the Jan. 6 events as part of "thousands of people comprising a mob of rioters" who stormed the Capitol.
Now, let’s be clear -- calling a spade a spade shouldn’t get you sidelined, but in today’s hyper-sensitive political climate, even factual descriptions can ignite a firestorm.
By Wednesday, just hours after the memo was added to the federal court database, the two prosecutors named on the document were placed on leave, as confirmed by sources speaking to CBS News.
A revised, shorter memo soon replaced the original, conveniently scrubbing any mention of the Jan. 6 "riot" or related political context, with two different prosecutors listed alongside U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro.
Let’s rewind a bit on Taranto himself -- he’s no stranger to controversy, having been pardoned by President Trump earlier this year for Capitol riot charges, only to land in hot water again.
Prosecutors noted Taranto was arrested in 2023 while livestreaming himself driving around former President Barack Obama’s D.C. neighborhood, armed and sharing a post from Trump’s Truth Social that allegedly revealed Obama’s address.
This latest case saw Taranto convicted of livestreaming a bomb threat, with the original filing pushing for a 27-month prison sentence at a hearing set for Thursday.
Here’s where it gets stickier -- Trump has referred to Jan. 6 as a "day of love" and the rioters as "hostages," a framing that clashes hard with the original memo’s language.
"Day of love"? With all due respect, that’s a tough sell when federal buildings were breached and chaos reigned, though one can understand the desire to reframe a painful chapter for many loyal supporters.
Trump’s broader clemency actions, granting pardons to over 1,500 accused and convicted Capitol demonstrators after returning to office, have fueled outrage among Democrat lawmakers and even drawn criticism from federal judges who decry a "revisionist myth" about the event.
Speaking of pushback, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a staunch Trump supporter and former Fox News host, was listed on both filings but stayed firm on the mission, stating, "While we don't comment on personnel decisions, we want to make very clear that we take violence and threats of violence against law enforcement, current or former government officials extremely seriously."
She added, "We have and will continue to vigorously pursue justice against those who commit or threaten violence without regard to the political party of the offender or the target." That’s a refreshing reminder that law and order must transcend partisan lines, even if the timing of this prosecutor shuffle raises eyebrows.
Meanwhile, Taranto isn’t the only pardoned protestor back in legal crosshairs -- others have faced charges for threats against political figures, burglary, and even brandishing weapons at law enforcement, proving that clemency doesn’t always close the book on bad behavior.
