DOJ Prosecutor Resigns Over Biden Climate Spending Probe

A top prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., resigned on Tuesday after refusing to open a criminal investigation into $20 billion in climate-related contracts issued during the final weeks of the Biden administration. The contracts, part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, have been flagged by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as potential wasteful spending.

Denise Cheung, head of the criminal division in the D.C. office, announced her resignation in a letter to interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin. Cheung disclosed that she had refused to initiate a criminal probe and issue grand jury subpoenas concerning allegations of unlawful contract awards by an executive agency prior to President Donald Trump taking office.

The Controversy:

• $20 Billion in Green Contracts: The funds, discovered in a Citibank account, were designated for green energy projects under Biden’s so-called Inflation Reduction Act a bill widely seen as a green energy spending spree.

• EPA Push for Accountability: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin labeled the contracts as “gold bars off the Titanic,” suggesting they were wasteful and misallocated. He has called for the funds to be returned to the U.S. Treasury.

• Cheung’s Refusal: In her resignation letter, Cheung stated that she did not believe there was sufficient evidence to take aggressive legal action, including seizing the funds.

Cheung’s resignation letter highlights a deepening rift within the DOJ. “Based upon the evidence I have reviewed, I still do not believe that there is sufficient evidence to issue the letter you described,” Cheung wrote. She argued that there was not enough probable cause to freeze the Citibank accounts holding the funds, a stance that led Martin to request her resignation.

Zeldin’s investigation found that the $20 billion was directed through eight “pass-through” entities that intended to channel the funds to other groups. He characterized this as a blatant misuse of taxpayer money. “What the American public voted for was having a government that would be better stewards of tax dollars,” Zeldin said in a Fox News interview, emphasizing his commitment to fiscal responsibility and energy independence.

The controversy underscores a larger battle within the federal government to curb the reckless spending and corruption often associated with the Biden administration’s climate agenda. The Inflation Reduction Act, which set aside billions for green initiatives, has been criticized for funneling taxpayer dollars into questionable projects with little oversight.

This incident is not the first time Biden-era holdovers within the DOJ have resisted investigating potential corruption. From the Hunter Biden investigation to the mishandling of classified documents, DOJ officials have frequently been accused of obstructing efforts to hold Democrats accountable. Cheung’s resignation adds to the narrative of a deep state resistant to enforcing laws equally and fairly.

By pushing back against what she described as insufficient evidence, Cheung's actions raise questions about the internal politics of the DOJ. It remains to be seen whether her departure will pave the way for a more aggressive investigation into Biden’s climate contracts or if it signals ongoing resistance to Trump's efforts to root out corruption.

As the DOJ moves forward with the investigation, all eyes will be on whether the department enforces Trump’s executive order to end the political weaponization of federal agencies and ensure accountability for taxpayer dollars.

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