President Donald Trump is once again under fire for removing two of his own appointed federal prosecutors after they reportedly refused to pursue criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey. According to a new New York Times report, the decision has raised concerns about political interference within the Justice Department during Trump’s tenure.
The latest case involves Todd Gilbert, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, who was allegedly forced to resign over the summer after declining to open a grand jury investigation. The report says Gilbert reviewed the evidence and informed superiors that it did not support a criminal case against Comey.
“After reviewing the evidence, Mr. Gilbert told his superiors that he did not believe there was sufficient evidence to justify a grand jury investigation,” the report stated. “Frustrated by that answer, aides to Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy, Todd Blanche, blamed a senior career attorney in the office who they believed had swayed Mr. Gilbert: Zachary Lee, a veteran prosecutor with more than two decades of experience involving public corruption and narcotics, among other issues.”
Trump officials then pressured Gilbert to remove Lee from his position. When Gilbert refused, he was reportedly forced to step down. His dismissal followed a similar incident earlier in the year in the Eastern District of Virginia, where another Trump-appointed prosecutor was also ousted after declining to pursue charges against Comey.
Gilbert, a former Republican speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, had built a career in state and federal politics before his appointment as U.S. attorney. His removal sparked widespread speculation about the White House’s growing impatience with prosecutors unwilling to align with its demands.
The controversy marks another chapter in Trump’s long-running feud with Comey, whom he fired in 2017. Trump has repeatedly accused Comey of corruption and misconduct, particularly regarding the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. However, multiple internal Justice Department reviews have found no grounds for criminal charges.
Gilbert has not publicly commented on his resignation, but colleagues described him as a respected career prosecutor who prioritized evidence over politics. The situation has reignited debate about the independence of federal prosecutors and the extent to which Trump’s administration sought to influence investigations for personal or political gain.
The Justice Department has declined to comment on the specifics of Gilbert’s departure.