The top criminal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia resigned after being ordered to investigate Environmental Protection Agency climate funding.

Ashleigh Fields reports for The Hill.

In short:

• Denise Cheung resigned after being instructed to investigate funding of eight non-profit organizations in charge of disbursing Inflation Reduction Act moneys to programs aimed at climate change mitigation.
• Cheung felt the investigation was premature and unsupported by evidence, according to media reports.
• EPA administrator Lee Zeldin criticized the rapid distribution of funds, vowing a full review.

Key quote:

“I took an oath of office to support and defend the Constitution, and I have executed this duty faithfully during my tenure.”
— Denise Cheung, former prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia

Why this matters:
The resignation of a key prosecutor adds to the recent upheaval in the U.S. Department of Justice, raising questions about political interference in justice decisions. Scrutiny of climate funding and efforts to curtail its disbursement are already impeding climate mitigation and resilience projects.