Ethics Complaint

Ethics Complaint Filed Against Jeanine Pirro,

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia

June 28, 2021

Jul 21, 2026

Editorial credit: Shuterstock

Lawyers Defending American Democracy has filed an ethics complaint against Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, with the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

The detailed ethics complaint alleges ethical violations in seven high-profile criminal cases that were committed by Ms. Pirro in her individual capacity and as a manager and supervisor of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for DC. According to the allegations set forth, Ms. Pirro’s conduct in these cases warrant investigation and appropriate discipline under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, noting specifically the special responsibilities of prosecutors, the allegations of managerial and supervisory misconduct, and the harm caused to the administration of justice. In addition, the complaint alleges that Ms. Pirro violated the New York Rules of Professional Conduct by making improper public statements regarding the subject of a criminal investigation, the defendant in a prosecution, and judges.

At a time when the justice system is under constant attack by the administration for decisions it does not like, and the Department of Justice can no longer be counted on to protect the public interest, the role of state disciplinary authorities has become even more critical.

Every state has in place a system to ensure that attorneys comply with the applicable Code of Professional Conduct in that state, and those rules apply to all lawyers. These rules protect the public by ensuring that lawyers adhere to the highest standards and when they do not, an investigation and possible sanctions are the appropriate response.

“A prosecutor’s primary duty is to seek justice under the law. Baseless prosecutions abuse our judicial system and ruin lives. That’s why it’s so important to hold prosecutors accountable for their ethical violations,” said Ellen Hornstein, an LDAD volunteer and a principal author of the complaint.

Scott Harshbarger, the chair of LDAD’s board and a former two-term Attorney General noted, “Ms. Pirro’s public statements regarding people her office is criminally investigating or prosecuting should be investigated. Prejudicial statements that prejudge guilt undermine the public’s confidence in the integrity of the justice system.”

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