A federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, Adam Schleifer, was fired on Friday following a directive from the White House. This decision came after the legal team of Andrew Wiederhorn, the former CEO of Fatburger, pressed officials to drop charges against him. The dismissal was communicated to Schleifer through a brief email stating it was "on behalf of President Donald J. Trump."
According to sources familiar with the situation, Schleifer received the termination notice around 11:15 a.m. on Friday. Joseph T. McNally, the acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, who is Schleifer’s supervisor, was reportedly not involved in the decision to terminate him. The email notifying Schleifer of his firing was sent from a White House staff account.
Wiederhorn was indicted last May on charges of concealing taxable income by distributing “shareholder loans” from his company to himself and his family. Allegations suggest he used these funds for personal luxuries, including vacations and expensive cars. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Wiederhorn’s legal team has been vocal in their efforts to persuade the Justice Department to dismiss the case. They have criticized Schleifer’s handling of the prosecution, claiming it was biased and legally unfounded. One of Wiederhorn’s attorneys described the prosecution as an instance of government overreach, asserting that there were no victims or losses involved.
The sources who spoke to the media indicated that Schleifer’s firing was politically motivated, particularly due to his involvement in the case against a supporter of Trump. This incident raises concerns among current prosecutors about the implications for their independence and the potential chilling effect on pursuing cases against individuals connected to the president.
Schleifer, who has a history of political commentary against Trump, was previously a federal prosecutor before taking a brief hiatus to run for Congress in New York. After losing in the Democratic primary, he returned to the U.S. attorney’s office.
This firing is seen as part of a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has been accused of removing officials who are perceived as political adversaries. Former federal prosecutor Carley Palmer commented that this incident is one of the most overtly political firings she has witnessed during her time at the Department of Justice.
The implications of this firing extend beyond Schleifer, as it may influence how prosecutors approach cases involving individuals with political connections, particularly those linked to the current administration.