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Trump’s Justice Department Fires Top Crime Task Force Director Amid Leadership Purge

By James Seidel | CC News Network

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a move that has sent shockwaves through the U.S. Justice Department, Adam Cohen, the now-former director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), was fired on Friday by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—just two days after Blanche’s confirmation as the department’s second-in-command.

Cohen’s abrupt termination comes amid what many are calling a purge of career Justice Department officials under the returning Trump administration, as it reshapes the department’s priorities.

But what makes this firing especially bizarre is that Cohen was reportedly dismissed just 18 hours after helping draft a memo outlining a new directive for OCDETF under Trump’s latest initiative: Operation Take Back America, which will shift the task force’s focus to illegal immigration enforcement.

Trump's Justice Department Fires Top Crime Task Force Director — Trump’s Justice Department Fires Top Crime Task Force Director Photo: NY Times

Cohen’s Public Reaction: “It Was a Shock”

Cohen took to LinkedIn shortly after his dismissal, stating:

“It was a shock. Putting bad guys in jail was as apolitical as it gets. My personal politics were never relevant. Not until yesterday.”

His comments hint at what he sees as a politically motivated removal, despite his years-long career in law enforcement.

A Growing DOJ Shake-Up

Cohen’s termination is not an isolated incident. It’s part of a broader shake-up inside the Justice Department, with the Trump administration removing or sidelining officials who had been in key roles under the previous administration.

On the same day Cohen was fired, three assistant U.S. attorneys in the Southern District of New York (SDNY)—including Celia Cohen and Andrew Rohrbach, both involved in prosecuting New York Mayor Eric Adams—were placed on administrative leave.

An internal email obtained by CC News Network revealed that SDNY’s acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky strongly disagreed with the decision:

“We were given no notice, nor asked for our views on this decision, with which I disagree. On that case and others, Celia and Andrew did the right thing, for the right reasons, in the right way—every single day.”

Adding to the turmoil, eight Justice Department attorneys in Washington and New York resigned after reportedly refusing to drop corruption charges against Adams—further fueling speculation that the DOJ is undergoing a radical transformation under Trump’s leadership.

“Thugs in the DOJ?” A Fired Attorney Speaks Out

But what CC News Network founder James Seidel finds particularly interesting is the tone of the backlash coming from former DOJ officials.

Among those placed on leave was Alex Kristofcak, a civil litigation attorney who publicly attacked Washington, D.C.’s interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin after Martin reportedly threatened to block Georgetown University Law School graduates from DOJ hiring unless they removed DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives from their curriculum.

Kristofcak took to social media, writing:

“This is a grotesque abuse of power. I am so sorry for my colleagues in D.C. who have this thug of a boss.”

It seems that DOJ insiders are now openly calling their former bosses ‘thugs’—an irony that James Seidel notes is worth discussing. When law enforcement officials use this kind of language against their own leadership, it raises serious questions about internal DOJ politics and whether these removals are policy-driven or personal vendettas.

More High-Profile Firings

Cohen, Cohen, and Rohrbach weren’t the only ones removed. Others caught up in the Friday purge include:

Liz Oyer, the DOJ’s Pardon Attorney
Bobak Talebian, who oversaw Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests

Their removals suggest that Trump’s second-term DOJ is cleaning house, targeting officials tied to decisions made in the past four years.

What Happens Next?

Cohen’s termination marks a defining moment in the Trump DOJ’s efforts to reshape federal law enforcement priorities. The removal of prosecutors in high-profile cases suggests that Trump is willing to overhaul the department’s structure—potentially reversing course on cases that targeted political allies while intensifying action against illegal immigration.

The real question now is: Are these firings necessary reform or political payback?

CC News Network will continue to investigate and report on the latest developments inside the DOJ’s transformation under the Trump administration.

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