The leading DOJ attorney responsible for prosecuting over 1,500 January 6th defendants is high-tailing it out of office just days before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. It’s a classic move of escape under pressure, reflecting a deeper concern as the curtain falls on an era marked by, what many consider, overzealous legal pursuits against American citizens.
Matthew Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, will resign on January 16th, four days shy of Trump’s inauguration. Under his watch, a staggering 1,572 individuals were charged with various offenses stemming from their actions at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. While Graves heralds his tenure as a peak professional achievement, many see his departure as an attempt to evade the scrutiny and potential correction the incoming administration might demand.
Graves’ exit comes on the heels of the Supreme Court’s decision in Fisher v. United States, which slammed the DOJ for overreaching in its application of an obstruction law. The law, intended for financial crimes, was inappropriately wielded to impose harsh penalties on January 6th defendants—misuse that the High Court decisively checked. Since the ruling, charges have been dropped or reduced in 150 cases, a telling retreat by an embattled DOJ.
It’s no surprise that Graves chose this moment to announce his resignation. His timing is impeccably aligned with a changing guard, perhaps to avoid the direct consequences of a Trump administration determined to dismantle what they see as a politically motivated abuse of power by the DOJ. Trump has openly criticized the handling of the January 6th cases, pledging to pardon those he believes were unjustly treated—a promise that has surely sent shivers down the spines of those like Graves.
The rush to the exit is not an act of integrity but a clear signal of accountability coming due. This scenario isn’t just about one man stepping down; it’s about a seismic shift in the justice system that seeks to correct what many conservatives believe to be a gross miscarriage of justice under a pretext of righteousness. The DOJ, under figures like Graves, has been accused of weaponizing the law against political adversaries—a tactic frighteningly reminiscent of regimes we criticize on the world stage.
As we stand at the threshold of 2025, let it be the year we say enough. Enough of the political persecution, enough of the corruption and subversion of justice. Let it be the year America restores fairness and transparency in its institutions, starting with a thorough examination of the actions taken under the guise of law and order that may have, in reality, been nothing short of tyrannical overreach.
