Updated 3:14 p.m. Friday
The Trump administration’s major overhaul of the Department of Justice led to the ousting of the Bay Area’s top federal prosecutor this week.
Ismail J. Ramsey, who was appointed U.S. Attorney for Northern California in 2023, was replaced Wednesday by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Robbins. Ramsey is one of the several high-ranking prosecutors appointed by former President Joe Biden who have been compelled to step down under the new administration.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed Ramsey’s departure, commending his contributions and leadership during his tenure as a top federal prosecutor.
“He oversaw the Office’s successful pursuit of correctional officers at the Bureau of Prisons for abusing their authority, civil rights violators, public corruption, trade secret theft, corporate fraudsters, fentanyl traffickers, and violent criminal organizations,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Lo said in a statement to KQED. “The office is proud of its accomplishments under Mr. Ramsey’s leadership.”
While it’s common for a new president to request the resignations of chief prosecutors appointed by the prior administration, such moves are usually coordinated with the Department of Justice. According to a Bloomberg report, however, Trump deviated from tradition by issuing termination orders without prior consultation with the department.
Tensions between the Trump administration and federal and state officials have been on the rise since Trump took office in January. Last month, he abruptly dismissed 17 inspectors general across eight agencies — leading several of the agency watchdogs to file a lawsuit against him — and the Trump administration has been vocal about slashing the federal workforce.
As Trump continues to dismiss defiant officials and appoint loyalists, it’s likely that the rift between government entities will deepen further, said Gabriel Lenz, a professor of political science at UC Berkeley.
“We all depend on the Justice Department to ensure that people follow federal law in the United States. Its independence and expertise in that area is so critical to a well-functioning society,” Lenz said. “We should all hope that the Trump administration is putting in place people who will fairly ensure compliance with the law.”
According to Aaron Teng, a professor at the UC Davis School of Law, while Trump’s dismissal of Ramsey may not raise immediate alarms, his actions in New York are concerning. On Thursday, several officials in the Department of Justice resigned after Trump directed them to dismiss a corruption investigation into New York Mayor Eric Adams.
Teng emphasized that Trump’s attempt at using the Department of Justice as a tool for advancing his policy objectives starkly contradicts the department’s core mission. The president is not allowed to use the justice system as a means of benefitting friends and punishing opponents, he added.
“It flies in the face of the Department of Justice’s long-standing guidelines about independence and the appropriate use of prosecutorial power,” he said. “Americans should all be concerned about what liberties may be at stake if the Trump administration can bribe people and threaten prosecution against people in order to get them to do what he wants.”
In addition to Ramsey, U.S. Attorney for Southern California, Tara McGrath was also dismissed from her position earlier this week. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden succeeded McGrath.
Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Ramsey taught at the Berkeley School of Law and co-founded the Bay Area law firm Ramsey & Ehrlich LLP.
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