She’s only served in the role since January 2022, but Massachusetts US Attorney Rachael Rollins is stepping down in light of a probe by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel into ethical issues and her appearance at a political fundraiser. Prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, Rollins served as the District Attorney for Suffolk County (which includes Boston) for three years. Rollins indicated, through her attorney, that she intends to submit a letter of resignation to President Joe Biden by the close of business on Friday.

Rollins’ appointment to the U.S. Attorney position faced headwinds from the outset.

Rollins was a controversial pick to be Massachusetts’ top federal law enforcer and twice needed Vice President Kamala Harris to break a tie for her nomination to move forward in the Senate amid fierce opposition from Republicans, who painted her as a radical.

But it was her attendance at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in 2022 that landed Rollins in hot water. An investigation into that appearance was opened by the DOJ’s inspector general in November and later expanded to include her use of her personal cellphone to conduct Justice Department business, as well as travel to California paid for by an outside group.

In addition to probing the fundraiser appearance, the inspector general’s office copied the phone contents of some employees in Rollins’ office as part of their probe into her possible use of her personal phone for Justice Department business, one person familiar with the matter told the AP last year.

The inspector general also examined a trip Rollins took to California that was paid for by an outside group, even though Justice Department employees are not supposed to accept payments for travel. The trip was for CAA Amplify, the annual gathering of entertainment, business and political figures run by one of Hollywood’s leading talent agencies, the Creative Artists Agency.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is also investigating whether Rollins’ attendance at the fundraiser constituted a Hatch Act violation.

In July, Rollins defended her attendance at the event.

I wasn’t asked for a comment before this ran. It’s almost as if the Herald⁩ didn’t want to know I had approval to meet Dr. Biden & left early to speak at 2 community events last night 🤔 Alas, back to keeping Boston & MA Part 1 crime ⬇️ Nice try though. https://t.co/wpVCUUdsev

— Rachael Rollins (@DARollins) July 15, 2022

In a tweet regarding a story run by the Boston Herald regarding demands for an investigation, Rollins stated:

I wasn’t asked for a comment before this ran. It’s almost as if the Herald⁩ didn’t want to know I had approval to meet Dr. Biden & left early to speak at 2 community events last night. Alas, back to keeping Boston & MA Part 1 crime. Nice try though.

Which somewhat begs the question: For what purpose did Rollins need to meet with Jill Biden? Per the Herald’s reporting, Rollins didn’t just meet the first lady at the event, but rather, arrived with her.

As the Herald first reported, Rollins showed up at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser with first lady Jill Biden on Thursday.

When asked if her attendance at the ritzy private gathering was breaking the law, she told a Herald reporter: “No.”

While there are certain exceptions to the Act’s provisions, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) raised questions regarding the incident in a letter demanding the investigation.

The Hatch Act strictly forbids DOJ employees from using their positions to solicit donations for political parties. In some cases, it does allow attending such events.

But Cotton, in his letter to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, points out that Rollins arrived during “typical business hours,” in a vehicle with government plates and “in her official capacity as United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.”

Following the news of Rollins’ resignation, Cotton drove home the need for scrutiny of “pro-criminal idealogues.”

Now that she has resigned in disgrace, the Senate should turn its attention to the corrupt, pro-criminal ideologues at the highest ranks of the Department of Justice.

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) May 16, 2023

In a thread on Twitter, Cotton stated:

I warned Democratic senators that Rachael Rollins wasn’t only a pro-criminal ideologue, but also had a history of poor judgment and ethical lapses.

Now that she has resigned in disgrace, the Senate should turn its attention to the corrupt, pro-criminal ideologues at the highest ranks of the Department of Justice.

Given the Senate’s present control by Democrats, I’d suggest the Senator not hold his breath.