Ex-Justice Department Official Criticizes Leadership, Cites Failures in Jan. 6 Probe

Former Trump DOJ Official Goes Public: Alleges Sabotage and Sloppy Work Over Jan. 6 Investigations

Jonathan Gross, a former political appointee at the Trump Justice Department, has publicly broken ranks, accusing his former superiors—including acting Attorney General Todd Blanche—of sabotage, sloppy work, and failing to deliver on promises of accountability for Jan. 6 defendants.

Gross shared a series of damning observations regarding the department's internal operations:

The "Weaponization Working Group" had no budget, no staff, and rarely met.
Emails Gross sent to superiors regarding Jan. 6 cases were ignored until he was told to stop entirely.

Gross also alleged that after he brought former Jan. 6 defendants into DOJ headquarters, he was placed on paid leave and subsequently demoted.

Speaking to activist Brandon Straka, Gross did not mince words in his criticism.

"The DOJ just don't care" about investigating alleged abuses against Jan. 6 defendants, Gross stated, painting a picture of an agency unwilling to follow through on its stated mission.

He further specifically targeted Todd Blanche, accusing him of actively sabotaging former Attorney General Pam Bondi in an attempt to take her job. Blanche has denied the allegation.

Gross also criticized the department's indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center, calling it "very sloppy."

Gross joined the DOJ's civil rights division in June 2025 after previously representing Jan. 6 defendants. Within the department, he worked with the Weaponization Working Group—a body that has yet to release any report on Jan. 6 prosecutions. According to a source, the group has since shifted its focus to claims of anti-Christian bias and the targeting of school board protesters.

The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has formally denied the allegations of sabotage.