Former Capitol Riot Prosecutor Sues Federal Government Over Firing

Michael Gordon, a federal prosecutor who handled some of the most notorious January 6 Capitol riot cases, has filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department claiming his June 27 termination was politically motivated retaliation. Gordon alleges he was fired due to his effectiveness in prosecuting Trump supporters involved in the Capitol attack, despite receiving the highest performance review shortly before his dismissal. He is joined by two other former Justice Department officials, Patricia Hartman and Joseph Tirrell, in the lawsuit against the department, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Executive Office of the President. Since President Donald Trump resumed office in January 2025, numerous Justice Department attorneys have been fired, demoted, or pressured to leave, with Gordon and the others appearing to be the first to take legal action. Gordon, who joined the department in 2017, helped lead prosecutions in the largest investigation in Justice Department history, including cases against nearly 1,600 charged individuals. He asserts that he lost his job not for misconduct but for enforcing the law against the Capitol rioters.