Ex-prosecutor Claims MAGA Influencer's Post Derailed Fraud Case
WHO:
CNN - Will Rosenzweig, former federal prosecutor, assistant US attorney in the Southern District of Florida.
CNN - Todd Blanche, named defendant in the lawsuit.
CNN - Natalie Winters, right-wing commentator.
CNN - Pam Bondi, then-Attorney General.
CNN - Marcelo Kochen, Michael Kochen, Sandro Herek, defendants in the Medicare fraud case.
WHAT:
CNN - Rosenzweig was fired two weeks before jury selection was scheduled to begin in a complex Medicare fraud case.
CNN - The lawsuit alleges that Rosenzweig's firing disrupted the government's case against the Kochen defendants, who were involved in a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud case.
CNN - The lawsuit claims that Michael Kochen and Sandro Herek were later convicted and sentenced, while Marcelo Kochen's case is still pending.
Alternet - The lawsuit states that Rosenzweig's termination forced the office to request a delay from a federal judge regarding the trial.
CNN - Rosenzweig filed the lawsuit on a Friday, alleging that the DOJ's actions effectively sabotaged its own criminal prosecution of a multimillion-dollar fraud case at the urging of a social media post.
Alternet - The lawsuit claims that Rosenzweig's termination caused significant issues with the Medicare fraud case, forcing the office to request a delay from a federal judge after he was removed.
Alternet - The lawsuit states that Rosenzweig was an excellent prosecutor who returned millions of dollars to taxpayers by prosecuting healthcare fraud cases.
CNN - Rosenzweig filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department alleging unlawful firing.
CNN - Rosenzweig was fired hours after Winters posted about his past blog criticizing Trump.
CNN - Rosenzweig is seeking his job back, backpay, and damages.
Alternet - The lawsuit claims the DOJ's actions sabotaged a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud case.
Alternet - The email firing Rosenzweig did not specify a reason other than presidential authority.
WHERE:
CNN - Southern District of Florida, where Rosenzweig worked.
Alternet - The Medicare fraud case is based in Florida.
WHEN:
CNN - Rosenzweig was fired during Rosh Hashanah.
CNN - Rosenzweig's blog started in January 2016 and was effectively defunct by January 2019.
Alternet - The lawsuit was filed on a Friday.
WHY:
CNN - The lawsuit alleges that Rosenzweig was targeted due to his criticisms of Trump, which were made as a private citizen prior to and during the first Trump administration.
Alternet - The lawsuit alleges that Rosenzweig was targeted because he exercised his First Amendment rights as a private citizen prior to and during the first Trump administration.
CNN - The lawsuit alleges Rosenzweig was fired as a perceived political enemy of the incumbent party.
Alternet - The DOJ targeted Rosenzweig due to his past criticisms of Trump as a private citizen.
HOW:
CNN - The memorandum informing Rosenzweig of his termination was signed by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, and he was informed of his firing via email while he was observing Rosh Hashanah with his family.
CNN - The memorandum informing Rosenzweig of his termination was signed by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi.
CNN - Rosenzweig was informed of his termination via email less than three hours after Winters' post.
CNN - The lawsuit claims that the DOJ's actions disrupted the government's case against the Kochen defendants.
(UPDATED August 8, 2026 00:43 UTC)
In a significant development, a lawsuit has been filed alleging that Rosenzweig was fired just two weeks before jury selection was set to begin in a complex Medicare fraud case, which disrupted the government's case against the Kochen defendants. The lawsuit claims that Michael Kochen and Sandro Herek were later convicted and sentenced, while Marcelo Kochen's case remains pending, and it also states that Rosenzweig's termination forced the office to request a delay from a federal judge regarding the trial. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that Rosenzweig was targeted for his criticisms of Trump, which he expressed as a private citizen during and prior to the first Trump administration, and he learned of his firing via email while observing Rosh Hashanah with his family.
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(UPDATED August 7, 2026 21:36 UTC)
A lawsuit has been filed by Rosenzweig, claiming that the Department of Justice undermined its own criminal prosecution of a multimillion-dollar fraud case, influenced by a social media post. The suit asserts that Rosenzweig's dismissal significantly disrupted the Medicare fraud case, leading to a request for a delay from a federal judge, and highlights his track record of returning millions to taxpayers through his work on healthcare fraud. It also alleges that Rosenzweig was targeted for exercising his First Amendment rights during the first Trump administration, with his termination memo signed by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi.
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(UPDATED August 7, 2026 19:54 UTC)
Will Rosenzweig, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Florida, has filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department alleging he was unlawfully fired just hours after right-wing commentator Natalie Winters criticized him for his past blog posts about Trump. The lawsuit claims that this termination, communicated via email without a specified reason, not only targeted Rosenzweig as a perceived political enemy but also disrupted a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud case involving multiple defendants. Rosenzweig is seeking his job back, backpay, and damages, arguing that the DOJ's actions sabotaged the government's case against the Kochen defendants.