A federal prosecutor fired in September 2025 has sued the Justice Department, alleging his termination violated his First Amendment rights due to critical comments he had made as a private citizen about President Donald Trump.
Will Rosenzweig filed the lawsuit in federal court in Miami, where he had worked as a prosecutor for five years. He seeks reinstatement and a court order declaring his firing unlawful. The complaint states Rosenzweig was two weeks away from trying a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud case when a conservative political commentator publicized a blog he had written years earlier. The commentator also included a screenshot of Rosenzweig's LinkedIn account and tagged senior Justice Department officials.
According to the lawsuit, Rosenzweig received an email signed by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi informing him of his termination less than three hours after the blog post gained attention. The lawsuit asserts that the blog, which had been inactive for over six years at the time of his firing, contained his thoughts on various topics, including critical observations about Trump and other political candidates. The specific comments highlighted by the commentator, Natalie Winters, focused on Trump, leading Rosenzweig to claim the firing was a direct infringement on his free speech rights.
The lawsuit argues that the Justice Department's action implies "a citizen must forever refrain from criticizing the government and its leaders to remain eligible to serve it." It further states that such a condition would force individuals to choose between speaking freely and serving in government, drawing a comparison to political loyalty requirements in other countries. Rosenzweig's complaint highlights his respected standing as a prosecutor, noting he received consistent praise and awards and was informed of an upcoming promotion just weeks before his dismissal.
A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment on the pending litigation.