Matthew Graves, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, announced he’ll be stepping down just days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20, 2025. Graves, who led the prosecution of over 1,500 individuals connected to the January 6 Capitol riots, shared his decision in a statement on Monday. He expressed gratitude to Congresswoman Holmes Norton, President Biden, and Attorney General Garland for their support during his tenure.
During Graves’ time in office, his team charged 1,572 people for crimes linked to the January 6th events. However, his role wasn’t without controversy. Following a Supreme Court ruling in the Fisher v. United States case, many of the charges brought against defendants were reevaluated. The ruling limited how obstruction laws could be applied to January 6 cases, leading to charges being dropped or reduced for dozens of defendants.
Graves also faced criticism for his stance on crime rates in Washington, D.C., where homicides remained high. Some even questioned his decision not to team up with special counsel David Weiss on the Hunter Biden investigation.
As Trump promises to pardon some of those involved in the January 6 events, Graves’ resignation comes as a sign of shifting political tides in Washington.
The question now is: What’s next for Matthew Graves? And how will his departure impact the ongoing legal battles for the January 6 defendants?
Stay tuned for more updates as the story unfolds.
