Urgent Removal: Crucial Prosecutors SIDELINED

November 4, 2025

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Two Assistant U.S. Attorneys were placed on administrative leave and denied access to their government systems one day before a scheduled court appearance, prompting scrutiny of the Justice Department’s internal disciplinary process.

Story Snapshot

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel White and Carlos Valdivia were abruptly suspended from their duties
The suspension occurred one day before their scheduled court appearance for Taylor Taranto’s sentencing
Both prosecutors were locked out of their government devices, suggesting immediate administrative action
The timing raises questions about potential retaliation for their characterization of January 6 events

Sudden Suspension Raises Eyebrows

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel White and Carlos Valdivia were placed on administrative leave without prior public explanation, according to court filings reviewed by Politico and The Hill. Their access to government networks and case materials was revoked, which effectively halted their work on ongoing prosecutions. Department officials have not publicly disclosed the reasons for the administrative action, describing it only as a personnel matter under internal review.

Timing Coincides with Court Appearance

The suspensions occurred one day before White and Valdivia were expected to appear in federal court for the sentencing of Taylor Taranto, who pleaded guilty to charges related to the January 6 Capitol breach. The timing of their removal drew notice from court observers because it temporarily delayed the scheduled proceedings while replacement prosecutors were assigned. The Justice Department has not commented on whether the action was connected to that particular case.

January 6 Characterization Under Scrutiny

Court transcripts show that both prosecutors previously referred to January 6 defendants as part of a “mob of rioters,” language consistent with previous DOJ filings under earlier administrations. However, internal communications obtained by The Washington Post indicate that senior Justice Department officials have recently reviewed terminology used in politically sensitive cases. Whether that review relates directly to White and Valdivia’s suspension remains unclear. While the coinciding timing has fueled public debate, no evidence has been made public suggesting the suspensions were politically motivated. A Justice Department spokesperson stated that the agency “does not comment on personnel matters.”

US prosecutors suspended after calling January 6 a ‘mob of rioters’

The U.S. Justice Department placed two prosecutors on leave on Wednesday, hours after they referred to Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, as “a mob of rioters” in a sentencing memo,…

— News News News (@NewsNew97351204) October 30, 2025

The dual suspension of two prosecutors involved in January 6-related prosecutions has prompted discussion among legal analysts about how the department manages internal accountability. Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner told MSNBC that simultaneous removals are “unusual but not unprecedented” during internal reviews. The Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility routinely conducts confidential assessments when questions arise over prosecutorial conduct or compliance. Court proceedings in the Taranto case have since resumed under new counsel, and sentencing is expected to proceed later this year.