Ryan Crosswell, Prosecutor Who Quit DOJ , Runs For Congress
Ryan Crosswell — a former federal prosecutor who resigned from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in protest — is now running for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania’s 7th District as a Democrat, using his resignation letter as a key part of his campaign message.
Crosswell stepped down from the DOJ in February 2025 after the Trump administration dropped corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. According to Crosswell, leadership in the DOJ dismissed the case not on merits but for political reasons tied to cooperation on immigration enforcement — a decision he viewed as undermining the rule of law and politicizing the justice system. His resignation letter emphasized his belief that the justice system must remain fair, impartial, and insulated from political influence.
In his campaign — which he launched in December 2025 from Allentown, Pennsylvania — Crosswell frequently reads from that resignation letter on the stump, framing it as evidence of his integrity and as a warning about corruption and abuse of power in government. He argues that the erosion of legal norms at the DOJ reflects broader threats to democratic institutions and civil liberties — themes he says will define his congressional bid.
Crosswell’s background combines military and prosecutorial service. Before joining the DOJ, he served as a U.S. Marine and then as a federal prosecutor for roughly 10 years, handling a range of criminal cases including major fraud, public corruption, and violent crimes. During his time in the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, he prosecuted high-profile cases and was deeply involved in public-corruption enforcement, a division originally formed in the aftermath of Watergate.
His decision to resign was part of a broader wave of departures by DOJ attorneys who said they could no longer work under leadership they believed was compromising the department’s mission. In public testimony earlier in 2025 before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, Crosswell and others warned that political interference had hollowed out the department’s independence and strained confidence in federal law enforcement.
In the race for Pennsylvania’s competitive 7th District, Crosswell seeks to challenge the Republican incumbent — a seat considered a key battleground in the 2026 midterms. The district is roughly evenly split politically, making his message about rule of law, corruption, and government integrity potentially influential with moderate and independent voters. While some voters list economic concerns and public safety as top priorities, Crosswell maintains that restoring confidence in institutions is tied to those same issues, because corruption erodes public trust and impacts prosperity.
Crosswell’s campaign also highlights his switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party about a year ago, indicating a realignment of his political philosophy in response to what he sees as extreme partisanship and erosion of foundational norms. He frames his candidacy as part of a broader movement of former federal officials seeking elected office to defend democratic principles and push back against what they describe as political abuses of power.
Despite the emphasis on justice and rule-of-law issues, Crosswell’s campaign acknowledges that day-to-day concerns such as affordability, healthcare, and jobs resonate more with many voters in the district. His strategy thus blends traditional local issues with broader constitutional themes, seeking to bridge concerns about governance with immediate economic and social needs.
Overall, Crosswell’s entry adds to a growing list of former DOJ attorneys who resigned or were pushed out during the Trump administration and have moved into public advocacy or electoral politics, arguing that their departures reflect deeper institutional problems that they now want to address through legislative roles.
📌 Why It Matters
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Test of rule-of-law concerns: Crosswell’s resignation and campaign bring attention to debates over political interference in the DOJ — a core issue for public trust in law enforcement.
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Symbolic defection: A federal prosecutor quitting on principle and running for office signals deep dissatisfaction among some legal professionals with the current administration’s justice policies.
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Electoral implications: In a swing congressional district, Crosswell’s message might influence moderate voters anxious about government overreach, corruption, and accountability.
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Broader movement: He’s part of a wider trend of former DOJ lawyers seeking elected office after resigning over politicization and leadership disputes within the department.
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Campaign narrative: Using his resignation letter as campaign material uniquely ties his legal career to his political ambitions, reinforcing a narrative of principled opposition to perceived abuses of power.
⚖️ Key Political / Legal Outcomes
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Resigned from DOJ in February 2025 in protest after prosecutors dropped the corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
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Announced campaign for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District in the 2026 midterm elections.
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Has positioned his resignation letter as a centerpiece of his campaign messaging.
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Crosswell has switched political party affiliation (from Republican to Democrat) since leaving DOJ.
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Part of a broader cohort of former DOJ staff citing politicization as a reason for leaving — now seeking public office to address those concerns.
