Mike Romano, former prosecutor in the Public Integrity Section

Dena Robinson, former lawyer in the Civil Rights Division

Joseph Tirrell, former director of the Departmental Ethics Office

“If we’re indicting people because the president hates them, that’s counter to the whole point of doing my job.”

Mike Romano, former prosecutor in the Public Integrity Section

“Our job wasn’t to engage in fact-finding investigations; our job was to find the facts that would fit the narrative.”

Dena Robinson, former lawyer in the Civil Rights Division

“They didn’t want the ethics office calling them up and telling them what to do.”

Joseph Tirrell, former director of the Departmental Ethics Office

The Unraveling of the Justice Department

Sixty attorneys describe a year of chaos and suspicion.

By Emily Bazelon and Rachel Poser Photographs by Stephen Voss Nov. 16, 2025