Two Federal Prosecutors Placed on Leave Over Jan. 6 Remarks
In a dramatic escalation of political tensions within the U.S. Justice Department, two federal prosecutors—Carlos Valdivia and Samuel White—have been placed on administrative leave after describing January 6 Capitol rioters as a “mob of rioters” in court filings.
Their offense? Submitting a sentencing memo that linked Taylor Taranto, a man recently convicted for appearing armed near former President Barack Obama’s Washington, D.C. residence, to his prior involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
What Happened in Court?
On Tuesday, Valdivia and White urged a federal judge to sentence Taranto to 27 months in prison. Their filing detailed how Taranto:
- Was part of the “mob of rioters” on Jan. 6
- Promoted conspiracy theories about the Capitol breach
- Later drove near Obama’s Kalorama neighborhood armed with a pistol, a semiautomatic rifle, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition
- Livestreamed his movements and claimed to be searching for “tunnels”
Critically, the prosecutors noted Taranto had reposted Obama’s home address after it was shared in a social media post by former President Donald Trump.
Justice Department Reverses Course
Within hours of the filing, the Justice Department withdrew the memo, labeling it “entered in error.” By Wednesday evening, new prosecutors—including Jonathan Hornok, chief of the criminal division—filed a revised version that retained the 27-month sentence recommendation but scrubbed all references to:
- January 6
- Taranto’s past Capitol involvement
- Trump’s social media post
- The phrase “political violence”
A Pattern of Retaliation
This incident is not isolated. Since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, his administration has systematically targeted prosecutors involved in Jan. 6 cases:
| Timeline | Action Taken |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | Over a dozen junior Jan. 6 prosecutors dismissed |
| February 2025 | Senior prosecutors demoted to misdemeanor roles |
| July 2025 | Three more career prosecutors fired |
| October 2025 | Valdivia & White placed on leave for Jan. 6 reference |
Legal experts warn this reflects a broader effort to purge the Justice Department of officials deemed “disloyal” by the Trump administration.
Why This Matters
The removal of contextual details—like Taranto’s Jan. 6 history and Trump’s role in sharing Obama’s address—raises serious concerns about transparency and the politicization of federal prosecutions. Critics argue that erasing these facts undermines public understanding of escalating political violence.
Who Is Taylor Taranto?
Taranto was among the nearly 1,600 individuals granted blanket clemency by President Trump for Jan. 6-related charges. His original charges—trespassing and disorderly conduct—were dismissed under that pardon. Yet his June 2023 armed appearance near Obama’s home led to new charges, culminating in a bench trial conviction.
Public and Legal Reactions
Civil rights groups and former DOJ officials have condemned the prosecutors’ punishment as intimidation. “Calling rioters a ‘mob’ isn’t opinion—it’s factual,” said one former U.S. attorney. “Punishing truth-telling sets a dangerous precedent.”
