NEW: Rep. Dave Min Leads 12 Representatives in Letter Demanding Investigation Into Bill Essayli For Potential Misconduct

Washington, D.C. — As first reported in Politico this morning, Representative Dave Min (CA-47), along with 12 of his colleagues, sent a letter urging the Department of Justice’s Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate whether former Acting US Attorney Bill Essayli has violated the DOJ’s Standards of Conduct and the California Bar Association’s Rules of Professional Conduct. The letter cites numerous instances where Essayli appears to have acted inappropriately or engaged in serious misconduct, including allegedly filing criminal charges that lack probable cause or using his office to target Donald Trump’s political critics.

“DOJ prosecutors wield enormous powers, and any concerns about abuse of these powers calls into question the impartiality and fairness of our criminal justice system,” wrote the representatives.

Representatives Danny Davis (IL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Scott Peters (CA-50), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Mark Takano (CA-39), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) signed the letter. 

Rep. Min, a former SEC prosecutor and member of the House Oversight Committee, is committed to calling out corruption and holding the lawlessness of the Trump administration in check. This letter is a continuation of his efforts as Chair of the Fighting Corruption Task Force to demand accountability in government and uphold the rule of law. 
California Playbook

First In Playbook: Eye on Essayli

Melanie Mason

• Democratic Rep. Dave Min is calling for an investigation into Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli’s conduct while leading the Central District of California. In a letter to the Department of Justice, Min cites multiple instances in which Essayli may have violated the Department’s standards of conduct, as well as rules governing professional conduct for the California State Bar.
• Min is accusing Essayli of multiple violations of professional misconduct, including filing criminal charges against protesters that were not supported by probable cause, opening politically-motivated investigations, and, in one reported instance, shouting “Fuck the Justice Manual” — the DOJ’s handbook on prosecution rules — to a team of federal attorneys considering an indictment of a protester.

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