US federal prosecutor fired over Trump criticism sues Justice Department

A former federal prosecutor in Miami has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, seeking reinstatement and back pay after his termination. The dismissal occurred just three weeks before a major Medicare fraud trial he was set to lead. The reason cited for his firing was past blog posts critical of former President Donald Trump.

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The former Miami federal prosecutor is suing the U.S. Department of Justice after being fired for past blog posts critical of former President Donald Trump.

Will Rosenzweig, the prosecutor in question, contends that his termination violated his First Amendment rights to free speech. His legal team argues that the blog in question had been inactive for over six years prior to his dismissal and contained a mix of content, including discussions on travel and sports, not solely political commentary critical of Trump.

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He argues his firing violated his First Amendment right to free speech.

Rosenzweig's lawsuit claims he had a strong record as a federal prosecutor for five years, consistently receiving praise and awards. The legal filing asserts that he was dismissed for expressing criticism of President Trump in a personal capacity years prior. The Department of Justice declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, citing the pending nature of the case.

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The blog had been inactive for over six years at the time of dismissal and included content unrelated to politics, such as travel and sports.

This lawsuit is expected to address the legal question of whether dismissing a public official for past political speech infringes upon their freedom of expression. The case highlights the tension between an individual's right to free speech and the expectations of conduct for those in public service, particularly concerning political commentary.

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The Department of Justice spokesperson declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.