On Wednesday, the Justice Department made headlines by terminating Michael Ben’Ary, the leading national security prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia.
This move came swiftly after investigative journalist Julie Kelly criticized Ben’Ary, exposing his close ties to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, a figure noted for her partisan loyalty during the Obama-Biden administration.
Monaco, an influential player in the Justice Department, had previously pursued aggressive actions against Trump and threatened to indict Republicans linked to the January 6 events. Interestingly, she was reportedly a member of a covert team in 2016 that met in the White House to strategize against then-candidate Trump regarding the now-discredited Trump-Russia collusion narrative.
The political landscape continues to shift as President Trump rescinded Monaco’s security clearance earlier this year, adding to her controversial status.
MSNBC’s Ken Dilanian reported that the timing of Ben’Ary’s dismissal, just hours after Kelly’s public denunciation, suggests a politically charged atmosphere within the Justice Department. He stated, “The DoJ fired the top national security prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia following MAGA activist Julie Kelly’s criticism on X about his previous role in the last administration.”
New: The DoJ fired the top national security prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia a few hours after MAGA activist Julie Kelly denounced him on X because he has been detailed to work for the deputy attorney general in the last administration.
— Ken Dilanian (@DilanianMSNBC) October 1, 2025
While MSNBC claimed that Ben’Ary’s dismissal was unconnected to the ongoing Comey case, Deep State prosecutors within the Eastern District of Virginia have been suspiciously involved, leaking memos to defend Comey just before his indictment.
In a heated exchange, Kelly responded to Dilanian’s comments, clarifying her position: “Oh Fusion Ken. I’m not just a ‘MAGA activist,’ I’m a reporter doing the effing job you establishment DOJ sycophants refuse to do. Now dig deeper into the Democratic ties to others in the EDVA, which tried to sabotage the Comey indictment.”
Oh Fusion Ken. I’m not just a “MAGA activist,” I’m a reporter doing the f*cking job you establishment DOJ sycophants refuse to do. Now dig deeper into the Democratic ties to others in the EDVA, which tried to sabotage the Comey indictment. https://t.co/hC7UpQFkbn
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) October 1, 2025
Following his firing, Ben’Ary expressed his dismay in a letter to his colleagues, urging them to resist the influence of Trump-appointed officials. He lamented the current state of the Department of Justice, stating, “I am even more disappointed to see what has happened to this office and the Department of Justice in just a few short months. The decisions to remove experienced career officials undermine our country’s ability to counter terrorist organizations, malign nation-state actors, and countless others that seek to harm our nation and its citizens.”
He called upon his former colleagues to uphold their commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law: “While I am no longer your colleague, I ask that each of you continue to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons. Follow the fact and the law.”
New: Fired national security prosecutor Michael Ben’Ary warns of danger ahead in a goodbye letter to his colleagues: “I am even more disappointed to see what has happened to this office and the Department of Justice in just a few short months. The decisions to remove experienced…” pic.twitter.com/ZW4JDO117k
— Ken Dilanian (@DilanianMSNBC) October 3, 2025
This abrupt dismissal follows President Trump’s earlier ousting of Erik Siebert as the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who was noted for his reluctance to pursue charges against politically charged figures such as Letitia James and Adam Schiff. With Siebert’s exit, new Acting US Attorney Lindsey Halligan promptly proceeded to indict former FBI Director James Comey. This series of firings has reportedly signaled an impending wave of resignations from the DOJ, further complicating the political dynamics within the institution.
