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Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

US Politics

US Politics

Sources: White House ordered firing of L.A. federal prosecutor on ex-Fatburger CEO case

Los Angeles Times
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Adam Schleifer received an email informing him that the dismissal was "on behalf of President Donald J. Trump ," according to multiple sources.

The White House and the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to inquiries.

The sources suspected the firing was motivated, in part, by a case he was assigned involving Andrew Wiederhorn , former chief executive of the company that owns Fatburger and Johnny Rockets .

Wiedherhorn 's lawyers have aggressively pushed Justice Department officials to drop the case, sources said.

Trump appointees pushed for prosecutors in Manhattan to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams .

One former prosecutor says firing is "going to have an incredible chilling effect on any line federal prosecutor who is thinking about criminally investigating or prosecuting an executive of any company of any significance" The recent federal case comes nearly two decades after Wiederhorn was first ensnared in financial crimes.

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