Fired Prosecutor Sues DOJ Over Trump Blog Posts
A former federal prosecutor fired after a conservative commentator highlighted his old blog posts is suing the Justice Department for First Amendment violations.
A former federal prosecutor who was dismissed last year after his private blog posts criticizing President Donald Trump were publicized has filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department, alleging his termination breached his First Amendment rights.
Will Rosenzweig, who served as a prosecutor in Miami for five years, was about two weeks from trying a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud case when conservative commentator Natalie Winters shared excerpts from his long-defunct blog on X, along with a screenshot of his LinkedIn profile and tags of senior Justice Department officials.
According to the lawsuit, less than three hours after that post, Rosenzweig received an email from then-Attorney General Pam Bondi informing him he had been fired. The news arrived while he was away with his family observing Rosh Hashana.
The September 2025 termination was part of a broader personnel overhaul at the Justice Department that has seen the firing of prosecutors linked to investigations involving Trump or perceived as opposing the administration's agenda.
The suit, filed in federal court in Miami, seeks Rosenzweig's reinstatement and a court declaration that his firing was unlawful. It describes him as a highly regarded prosecutor who received consistent praise and awards, and who had been told just weeks before his dismissal that he would receive a special parking spot.
The blog, inactive for over six years, covered travel, sports, and other apolitical topics, but also included critical observations about Trump and other political candidates. Winters' post specifically highlighted his remarks about Trump, the complaint states.
The lawsuit argues that the firing rests on the premise that a citizen must never criticize the government to remain eligible to serve it, a rule that would force Americans to choose between free speech and future public service. It contrasts this with merit-based hiring, saying that conditioning employment on political loyalty is a practice of authoritarian states, not the United States.
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.