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Top lawyer in Justice Department's Civil Division is latest in string of resignations
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Brett Shumate, the assistant attorney general leading the Justice Department's Civil Division, resigned abruptly on Monday amid a series of high-profile departures following the Democrats' midterm election victories.
- Shumate was recognized for pursuing litigation against sanctuary policies and defending federal law enforcement interests, but his division struggled with a surge of lawsuits challenging the federal government under the Trump administration.
- Recent departures also include assistant attorneys general from the national security and civil rights divisions, leaving key Justice Department offices without Senate-confirmed leaders.
- T. Elliot Gaiser, currently assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel, is being considered for a federal judgeship nomination, known for authoring controversial legal opinions related to military actions.
- Shumate's resignation may be linked to internal criticism from Stephen Miller, the new White House chief of staff, who reportedly viewed Shumate as insufficiently aggressive in his legal approach.
