“Pursuant to Local Rule of Criminal Procedure 44.5(e), please notice the withdrawal of Brandon L. Van Grack as counsel for the government in the above-captioned matter.” Notice of Withdrawal, United States v. Flynn, ECF 197, May 7, 2020. Signed Brandon L. Van Grack, Chief, FARA Unit.
Documented That is the entire operative sentence. Filed May 7, 2020. No reason. Same day the Department of Justice moved to dismiss the Flynn information. Axios, Politico, CNBC, Fox News, the Washington Examiner, Daily Wire, The Federalist, RealClearPolitics, and Gateway Pundit all reported the withdrawal. Fox, citing an administration official, said he was still at DOJ and had not resigned from the Department. Daily Wire (Tim Pearce, May 8) said he withdrew from at least three cases and that a department spokeswoman declined to comment.
Allegation Pearce’s Daily Wire headline ties the withdrawal to accusations he withheld evidence. Kylee Griswold’s Federalist piece (May 7) argues he failed to produce FBI closing-memo and Strzok-intervention documents required by Judge Sullivan’s standing Brady order, and quotes his 2019 claim that the government had complied and had not “affirmatively suppressed evidence.” Cristina Laila’s Gateway Pundit headline said he “Hid Brady Material.” Those are accusations and commentary. The filing does not confess them.
Do not write that he “resigned from DOJ” on May 7. The document is a withdrawal from counsel appearances. Politico Influence later dated his exit from the Department to February 2021, when he joined Morrison Foerster.