Political Change and Federal Prosecutor Communications: Does Rhetoric Match Reality?

Matthew E. Baker; Ethan D. Boldt; Jason S. Byers; Hayley Munir

doi:10.1017/jlc.2026.10021

Political Change and Federal Prosecutor Communications: Does Rhetoric Match Reality?

Matthew E. Baker
, Ethan D. Boldt
, Jason S. Byers
, Hayley Munir

Political Science

Emory University
University of Connecticut
Illinois State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In this study, we provide a first-of-its-kind exploration of how strategic messaging by U.S. Attorneys changes during a partisan transition. We leverage original data from United States Attorney's Office press releases that are used to inform the public about important case developments, offering a window into federal prosecutorial priorities and narratives. Using textual analysis, we examine how these political communications changed in the turnover from the Biden administration to the second Trump administration. Then, we utilize criminal case processing data to evaluate whether the content of press releases tracks with U.S. Attorney charging decisions.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Law and Courts
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/jlc.2026.10021
State	Accepted/In press - 2026

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Sociology and Political Science
Political Science and International Relations
Law

Keywords

immigration
presidential appointments
press releases
Prosecutors
U.S. Attorneys

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10.1017/jlc.2026.10021

Cite this

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title = "Political Change and Federal Prosecutor Communications: Does Rhetoric Match Reality?",

abstract = "In this study, we provide a first-of-its-kind exploration of how strategic messaging by U.S. Attorneys changes during a partisan transition. We leverage original data from United States Attorney's Office press releases that are used to inform the public about important case developments, offering a window into federal prosecutorial priorities and narratives. Using textual analysis, we examine how these political communications changed in the turnover from the Biden administration to the second Trump administration. Then, we utilize criminal case processing data to evaluate whether the content of press releases tracks with U.S. Attorney charging decisions.",

keywords = "immigration, presidential appointments, press releases, Prosecutors, U.S. Attorneys",

author = "Baker, \{Matthew E.\} and Boldt, \{Ethan D.\} and Byers, \{Jason S.\} and Hayley Munir",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Law and Courts Organized Section of the American Political Science Association.",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1017/jlc.2026.10021",

language = "English",

journal = "Journal of Law and Courts",

issn = "2164-6570",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Political Change and Federal Prosecutor Communications

T2 - Does Rhetoric Match Reality?

AU - Baker, Matthew E.

AU - Boldt, Ethan D.

AU - Byers, Jason S.

AU - Munir, Hayley

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Law and Courts Organized Section of the American Political Science Association.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - In this study, we provide a first-of-its-kind exploration of how strategic messaging by U.S. Attorneys changes during a partisan transition. We leverage original data from United States Attorney's Office press releases that are used to inform the public about important case developments, offering a window into federal prosecutorial priorities and narratives. Using textual analysis, we examine how these political communications changed in the turnover from the Biden administration to the second Trump administration. Then, we utilize criminal case processing data to evaluate whether the content of press releases tracks with U.S. Attorney charging decisions.

AB - In this study, we provide a first-of-its-kind exploration of how strategic messaging by U.S. Attorneys changes during a partisan transition. We leverage original data from United States Attorney's Office press releases that are used to inform the public about important case developments, offering a window into federal prosecutorial priorities and narratives. Using textual analysis, we examine how these political communications changed in the turnover from the Biden administration to the second Trump administration. Then, we utilize criminal case processing data to evaluate whether the content of press releases tracks with U.S. Attorney charging decisions.

KW - immigration

KW - presidential appointments

KW - press releases

KW - Prosecutors

KW - U.S. Attorneys

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039111830

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039111830#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1017/jlc.2026.10021

DO - 10.1017/jlc.2026.10021

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105039111830

SN - 2164-6570

JO - Journal of Law and Courts

JF - Journal of Law and Courts

ER -

Political Change and Federal Prosecutor Communications: Does Rhetoric Match Reality?

Abstract

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

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