Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor who resigned from the Justice Department in February after the administration dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, now reads his resignation letter at campaign events as he runs for Congress in Pennsylvania. Crosswell frames his campaign around threats to the rule of law and uses his prosecutorial and military background to underscore his message. While polls show voters prioritize economic issues, Crosswell argues corruption and weakened institutions directly affect everyday families and affordability. He is one of five Democrats competing to challenge Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in a narrowly decided district.
Former DOJ Prosecutor Ryan Crosswell Reads Resignation Letter on the Campaign Trail as He Seeks House Seat in Pennsylvania
Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor who quit the Department of Justice in protest, speaks at a campaign event for his run for Congress, Dec. 4, 2025, in Allentown, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor and Marine reservist, has made his February resignation from the Justice Department a recurring moment in his campaign for Congress.
Crosswell stepped down after the Trump administration dropped corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in exchange for the mayor's cooperation on immigration enforcement. At a recent event in the West End Taproom in Allentown, Crosswell paused his stump speech to read the final line of his resignation letter aloud:
“I pray that the Department of Justice remains dedicated to upholding the rule of law evenly without fear or favor. Sincerely, Ryan Crosswell.”
The passage drew applause and cheers from dozens of local Democratic activists. Crosswell is one of five Democrats vying for the party's nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie next year in a district Democrats view as highly competitive; Mackenzie won the seat last year by roughly one percentage point.
Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor who quit the Department of Justice in protest, speaks to attendees at a campaign event for his run for Congress, Dec. 4, 2025, in Allentown, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Campaign Message: Rule Of Law Meets Kitchen-Table Issues
While many voters prioritize immediate economic concerns, Crosswell is emphasizing his law enforcement background and warning about what he and supporters describe as politicization of the justice system during the Trump era. He told reporters he is frequently asked about presidential pardons for allies, aggressive immigration enforcement, military actions in the Caribbean and prosecutions of political opponents — and that he "leans into" those conversations on the campaign trail.
“People aren’t asking, ‘How can my government protect me?’ It’s, ‘How can I protect myself from my government?’” Crosswell said, arguing that threats to legal norms ultimately harm everyday families. “Corruption is a kitchen table issue. Because public office is a public trust.”
Local Reactions And Voter Concerns
Attendees at Crosswell’s Allentown event emphasized principle and personal anxiety about the direction of federal institutions. “I like that he quit his job because he was given a job that went against his moral compass,” said supporter Elisabeth Grant. Others, like Joe McDermott, said they fear political retribution from federal authorities and described shrinking civic speech as a concern.
Ryan Crosswell, former federal prosecutor who quit the Department of Justice in protest, speaks at a campaign event for his run for Congress, Dec. 4, 2025, in Allentown, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Joniel Colon Rosario, originally from Puerto Rico, said he now hesitates to speak Spanish in public for fear of harassment — a vivid example of how some voters feel national debates about power and enforcement shape daily life.
Mackenzie’s campaign responded that most Pennsylvania voters want solutions to immediate problems. “They aren’t interested in a lecture, they’re interested in the issues — affordability, public safety and national security,” the campaign said.
Background And Broader Context
Crosswell, 45, moved from Washington, D.C., to Allentown after resigning and switched his voter registration from Republican to Democrat about a year earlier. His résumé includes active-duty service as a U.S. Marine and work as a federal prosecutor — credentials he uses to frame his message about integrity and rule-of-law protection.
Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor who quit the Department of Justice in protest, speaks to attendees at a campaign event for his run for Congress, Dec. 4, 2025, in Allentown, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
He is not alone in leaving federal posts for electoral politics this year: former federal prosecutors and intelligence officials have launched campaigns in other competitive districts, reflecting wider concern among some public servants about what they see as threats to institutional norms.
Still, public-opinion polling indicates many voters place economic issues above worries about governance. A recent CNN poll found roughly four in 10 U.S. adults name economic concerns as the nation's top problem, while only about one in 10 cite attitudes about government, including corruption or the rule of law. Crosswell and his campaign argue, however, that corruption and governance are inseparable from economic wellbeing.
Associated Press writer Linley Sanders contributed reporting from Washington.
