Justice to investigate former top prosecutor for '60 Minutes' interview mention sedition charges

Justice Department officials say Sherwin's interview did not comply with their rules and procedures for talking with the media.

By Nicholas Sherman

Published: March 24, 2021 2:13pm

Updated: March 24, 2021 4:10pm

The Justice Department is investigating former acting Attorney for Washington D.C., Michael Sherwin for comments he made about the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots on CBS's "60 Minutes."

Sherwin said in an interview air Sunday that he personally believed there was evidence to charge with sedition many of those involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

"I personally believe the evidence is trending toward that and probably meets those elements," Sherwin said in the interview. "I believe the facts do support those charges. And I think that, as we go forward, more facts will support that."

John Crabb, the director of the criminal division for the U.S. attorney's office in Washington, told a judge Tuesday that the department will investigate Sherwin's comments, which other prosecutors found inappropriate, according to NBC News.

"The Department of Justice has rules and procedures that govern contact with media, and as far as we can determine at this point, those rules and procedures were not applied with respect to that '60 Minutes' interview. Therefore that matter has been referred to the Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility," Crabb said.

Sherwin led the investigation into the riots until last week when he stepped down and returned to the department's office in Miami.