In a controversial move that has reignited debate over political interference in the US legal system, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has placed two federal prosecutors on administrative leave after they described the participants in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack as a “mob of rioters.”
The suspended attorneys, Samuel White and Carlos Valdivia, both served in the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia — the office that oversaw hundreds of prosecutions stemming from the Capitol riot.
References to January 6 Removed from Court Filings
According to internal documents obtained by Reuters and The Associated Press, the disciplinary action was accompanied by the removal of language referencing the January 6 attack from sentencing documents related to a high-profile criminal case.
The two prosecutors were reportedly locked out of their government devices on Wednesday, the same day the updated filings were submitted.
Both had originally described the events of January 6 as a “violent insurrection by a mob of rioters” in the sentencing memorandum for Taylor Taranto, a Navy veteran and known Trump supporter involved in the attack.
Trump Administration’s Ongoing Pressure on Federal Prosecutors
The suspensions mark the latest example of the Trump administration’s efforts to discipline or sideline career prosecutors perceived as acting against the president’s interests.
President Donald Trump has long characterized the Capitol rioters as “patriots” and “hostages of political persecution.” On his first day of his second term, Trump pardoned more than 1,500 individuals convicted or charged for crimes related to the January 6 attack. Fourteen more received commutations of sentence.
In an official White House statement earlier this year, Trump called the prosecutions a “grave national injustice,” framing the rioters as victims of political bias.
The January 6 Attack and Its Lasting Impact
The attack on the US Capitol occurred as Congress convened to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Following Trump’s repeated false claims that the election was “rigged,” thousands of his supporters stormed the building, breaching security perimeters and clashing with police.
More than 100 officers were injured in the melee. Several individuals, including one police officer and a protester, later died as a result of the day’s violence. The attack caused extensive property damage and delayed the Electoral College certification by several hours.
Judge Commends Suspended Prosecutors for “Professionalism”
Despite their suspension, Judge Carl Nichols of the US District Court praised prosecutors White and Valdivia during Thursday’s sentencing hearing for Taranto.
“They did a commendable and excellent job, showing the highest standards of professionalism,” Nichols said from the bench.
Taranto was ultimately sentenced to 21 months in prison — time he has already served since his arrest in 2023.
Who Is Taylor Taranto?
Taranto, a veteran of the US Navy, was captured on security footage attempting to breach the Speaker’s Chamber during the January 6 riot. Though later pardoned by Trump, he was separately convicted in May 2025 on firearms and hoax-related charges after being arrested near former President Barack Obama’s Washington residence.
Authorities found two guns and over 500 rounds of ammunition in Taranto’s vehicle. He had livestreamed his movements online, apparently following an address Trump posted to social media.
Prosecutors alleged that Taranto also uploaded a hoax video the day before claiming a car bomb was headed for a federal facility, the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Pattern of Political Retaliation
The DOJ has not officially commented on the suspensions. However, multiple legal analysts and advocacy groups say the move reflects growing political pressure on the Justice Department to align with White House narratives.
Earlier this year, nearly two dozen prosecutors in the DC office were fired or reassigned, many of them linked to the original January 6 investigations conducted under President Biden’s administration. In June, another three were reportedly terminated under similar circumstances.
Legal experts warn that such actions could have far-reaching implications for judicial independence and the future of politically sensitive prosecutions in the United States.
Broader Implications for US Justice
The suspensions have sparked fresh debate about the erosion of prosecutorial independence and the politicization of the Department of Justice under Trump’s second term.
Civil rights advocates argue that punishing career attorneys for using factual terms — such as “rioters” or “insurrectionists” — undermines the rule of law and weakens public trust in the justice system.
As the United States continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Capitol riot, these developments underscore the deep divisions between political leadership and the nonpartisan institutions charged with upholding accountability.
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