Michael Gordon, a former federal prosecutor, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, claiming he was fired in June 2025 due to political retaliation for his role in prosecuting individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. He had been a part of the Justice Department since 2017 and was considered one of its top attorneys, with a record of successfully prosecuting dozens of defendants from the Capitol attack. Among the high-profile cases he handled were those against Richard "Bigo" Barnett, who was seen with his feet on a desk in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, Eric Munchel, who carried zip-tie handcuffs and a stun gun into the Senate chamber, and Rebecca Lavrenz, who called herself the “J6 praying grandma.” Gordon also prosecuted Ray Epps, a key figure falsely accused by some right-wing groups of being a government agent responsible for inciting the riot.
Gordon was terminated abruptly on June 27, 2025, just two days after receiving a top performance review. He says the letter he received from Attorney General Pam Bondi gave no explanation, only citing legal authority under the U.S. Constitution. His dismissal came alongside the firing of two other officials—Patricia Hartman and Joseph Tirrell—who had also worked on January 6-related cases or in sensitive positions. Hartman had served as a public affairs specialist, while Tirrell led the department’s ethics office. These three individuals are now jointly suing the Department of Justice, Attorney General Bondi, and the Executive Office of the President, arguing that their removals were motivated by political pressure rather than job performance.
Since former President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, the Justice Department has seen a wave of departures. Dozens of attorneys have been fired, demoted, or forced out, while others have quit in protest. Gordon believes he was targeted for doing his job—holding accountable those who broke the law during the Capitol insurrection. He points out that he wasn’t dismissed for misconduct or poor performance, but rather for enforcing the law against individuals the new administration wished to protect. Gordon had volunteered for the January 6 prosecution team after watching the riot unfold on television from his office in Florida. He said he was proud to be part of the largest criminal investigation in Justice Department history.
Former colleagues described Gordon as a dedicated and skilled attorney who set the standard for trying high-profile cases. Michael Romano, a former deputy chief in the now-dissolved Capitol Siege Section, said there was no justification for letting someone like Gordon go. Jason Manning, another former prosecutor, praised Gordon’s courtroom expertise, calling him a model for others in how to present complex cases to judges and juries. The fact that Gordon was dismissed in the middle of an ongoing $100 million fraud case against Leo Govoni, a Florida man accused of stealing from medical trust funds, has raised further concerns. Representative Kathy Castor from Florida has urged Attorney General Bondi to reinstate Gordon immediately, noting that his firing not only disrupts justice but also delays closure for the victims of that fraud case.
Gordon said he would accept his job back if offered. He believes the firing sends a dangerous message to other public servants: that doing their duty may cost them their careers if their work conflicts with political interests. He wants to make sure his children grow up in a country where the law is respected and not manipulated for political gain. When he was fired, Gordon was in his office preparing a witness for trial when he was interrupted and handed the termination letter. He believes his firing symbolizes a bigger issue about the erosion of legal protections and impartial justice under political pressure. He says that while he spent years defending the government, he now finds himself in the difficult position of fighting it to protect the very idea of justice he once worked to uphold.
