Washington – The Legal Accountability Center, a watchdog group that monitors attorney conduct, filed bar complaints on Tuesday accusing U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and two senior staff members of violating ethical rules in a bid to indict six Democratic lawmakers. The complaints were submitted to the grievance committees in New York and Virginia.
Allegations of political misuse of prosecutorial power
The complaints assert that Pirro, along with her deputies Carlton Davis and Steven Vandervelden, abused their authority to pursue what the center describes as “meritless” charges against members of Congress who appeared in a video urging service members to obey established military protocols and reject orders they believed to be unlawful. The center says the effort was driven by political animus toward President Donald Trump’s perceived opponents.
In February, a grand jury in Washington declined to indict Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin and four House members for the same video. All six officials have prior service in the military or intelligence community. President Trump publicly labeled the video as seditious and punishable by death on social media.
Bar complaints seek disciplinary action
The Legal Accountability Center’s filing asks bar authorities to investigate whether Pirro and her colleagues breached professional conduct rules and, if so, to pursue appropriate discipline. The complaint characterizes the attempt to secure an indictment as a “patently improper effort” lacking any legal foundation.
“Prosecutors have enormous power, and with that power comes an obligation to exercise independent legal judgment rather than use the criminal justice system to carry out a president’s political demands,” said Michael Teter, co‑founder of the center, in a statement.
Background on Pirro and related investigations
Jeanine Pirro, a former county prosecutor and judge from New York, left her role as a Fox News host to become the top federal prosecutor for Washington last year. Critics have previously accused her of pursuing politically motivated cases at the behest of the Trump administration, including a recently dropped felony charge against a former Olympian accused of defacing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The center has also filed complaints against other Trump administration officials, such as Ed Martin Jr., Pirro’s predecessor as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, who has been a prominent figure in the administration’s efforts to use the Justice Department against political opponents.
Related legal actions
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has sought to punish Senator Kelly, a former Navy pilot, for his participation in the video. Kelly successfully sued to block a censure, and the case is now pending appeal.
The complaints against Pirro and Vandervelden were lodged with the grievance committee in White Plains, New York, while the complaint against Davis was filed with the Virginia State Bar.
Implications for the rule of law
If the bar investigations proceed, they could reinforce the principle that federal prosecutors must remain independent from political pressure, a cornerstone of constitutional governance. The outcome may also signal to the Trump administration that attempts to weaponize the Justice Department against perceived opponents will be scrutinized and potentially disciplined.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
