The question lingers, unanswered and increasingly urgent: why is Jocelyn Ballantine still employed by the Department of Justice?
Her involvement in the Michael Flynn prosecution was marred by admitted evidence tampering, initially dismissed as an “inadvertent mistake.” But the issues ran far deeper, extending to altered documents presented to opposing counsel and crucial information redacted from FBI reports.
Ballantine’s actions didn’t stop there. She refused to support the government’s motion to dismiss charges against General Flynn, a clear indication of her unwavering commitment to a controversial case, regardless of its flaws.
Later, she took a leading role in the prosecution of members of the Proud Boys, a trial riddled with accusations of fabricated evidence and relentless pressure tactics against the defendants.
Reports emerged detailing attempts to plant evidence within Proud Boys chat groups and coerce false testimony, all seemingly aimed at securing lengthy prison sentences – sentences that, in some cases, exceeded two decades.
This past weekend, investigative journalist Julie Kelly revealed a disturbing new assignment for Ballantine: she is now the lead prosecutor in the case of the January 6th pipe bomber.
Kelly expressed disbelief, suggesting that current DOJ and FBI leadership may be unaware of Ballantine’s past conduct. Her track record, Kelly stated, marks her as “among the worst of the worst” prosecutors.
During the Proud Boys trial, the defense uncovered a hidden FBI spreadsheet revealing discussions about destroying evidence and illegally surveilling communications between defendants and their attorneys.
When the defense attempted to present this evidence, Judge Tim Kelly – a former colleague of Ballantine – abruptly halted the questioning, shielding the information from the jury. Ballantine then successfully argued the communication was classified, further obscuring the truth.
The consequences of Ballantine’s actions were devastating, shattering families and condemning men to years behind bars. Enrique Tarrio, for example, received a 22-year sentence, later commuted, but representative of the severity sought by the prosecution.
Adding another layer to the scandal, former Proud Boys President Enrique Tarrio recently revealed that Ballantine attempted to secure a false plea deal from him, one that would have implicated President Trump in the events of January 6th.
This shocking revelation confirms suspicions that Ballantine was willing to exploit the case to target a political figure, raising serious questions about her impartiality and ethical conduct.
Despite this history, Ballantine remains at the DOJ, now entrusted with a high-profile case with national implications. The question isn’t just why she hasn’t been removed, but who is aware of her past and why no action has been taken.
