Blumenthal Demands DOJ Answer for Reassigning Prosecutors from Key National Security, Public Safety Roles
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to acting U.S. Attorney General James McHenry and Director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Hinds demanding information about the reassignment of Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs), including those responsible for prosecuting major drug trafficking, money laundering, and global organized crime, to immigration enforcement roles – including potentially the prosecution of local officials from states like Connecticut. Blumenthal is demanding answers regarding the scope of and reasoning behind these reassignments, citing concerns that the reassignment will distract from larger national security and public safety efforts.
“I have received credible information that additional criminal AUSAs are being reassigned to immigration enforcement, roles for which they have little or no experience or expertise. These troubling reassignments will handicap the ability of U.S. Attorney’s Offices to investigate and prosecute some of the most serious and harmful federal crimes, including child exploitation, sex trafficking, terrorism, and drug trafficking,” wrote Blumenthal.
“President Trump has already conscripted other federal law enforcement agencies to carry out his anti-immigration agenda,” continued Blumenthal. “These myopic decisions are damaging to federal law enforcement and distracting these law enforcement entities from their core missions, which are critical to national security and public safety. Reassignment of AUSAs to immigration enforcement will only exacerbate that damage.”
The full text of the letter can be found here and below.
February 04, 2025
Dear Acting Attorney General McHenry and Director Hinds:
On January 21, 2025, Acting Deputing Attorney General Bove issued a memorandum calling, in part, for Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)-funded Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) to “devote significant time and attention to the investigation and prosecution of [immigration offenses].”[1] As you know, OCDETF is responsible for investigating and prosecuting transnational organized crime, money laundering, and major drug trafficking—not immigration offenses.[2] Moreover, I have received credible information that additional criminal AUSAs are being reassigned to immigration enforcement, roles for which they have no experience or expertise. These troubling reassignments will handicap the ability of U.S. Attorney’s Offices to investigate and prosecute some of the most serious and harmful federal crimes, including child exploitation, sex trafficking, terrorism, and drug trafficking.
President Trump has already conscripted other federal law enforcement agencies to carry out his anti-immigration agenda, including agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the U.S. Marshals Service.[3] These myopic decisions are damaging to federal law enforcement and distracting these law enforcement entities from their core missions, which are critical to national security and public safety. Reassignment of AUSAs to immigration enforcement will only exacerbate that damage.
To understand the purpose and scope of your personnel actions relating to the reassignment of prosecutors and federal law enforcement personnel, please provide the following information as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, February 10, 2025:
- A complete accounting of AUSAs and federal law enforcement personnel who have been reassigned from other roles to positions focused on immigration-related enforcement since January 20, 2025, including:
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- The number of AUSAs reassigned, broken down by U.S. Attorney’s Office and by the section, unit, team or office within each Office;
- The amount of notice given to each employee before their reassignment;
- The date each employee was reassigned; and
- The rationale provided to the employee for the reassignment.
- Copies of any memoranda, policies, or other records reflecting or relating to the reassignment of AUSAs to immigration-related enforcement actions.
I appreciate your full and prompt consideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
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