The United States Justice Department has officially dismissed a significant federal case against restaurant group Fat Brands and its chairman, Andy Wiederhorn, a decision that comes months after a career prosecutor handling the investigation was controversially fired by the Trump administration. This development has drawn attention to the interplay between political appointments and ongoing legal proceedings, raising questions about influence within the federal legal system.
The initial charges against Wiederhorn, Fat Brands Inc., William Amon, and Rebecca Hershinger involved an elaborate scheme to conceal $47 million allegedly paid to Wiederhorn. Furthermore, Wiederhorn faced a separate indictment for possessing a firearm and ammunition, given his prior felony convictions. Prosecutors, including former U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, had previously characterized Wiederhorn’s actions as using the company as his “personal slush fund” and labeling him a “serial tax cheat,” with all defendants having pleaded not guilty.
Central to this legal saga was Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Schleifer, the lead prosecutor on the Fat Brands case. His firing by the White House Presidential Personnel Office followed public calls from Trump supporters and right-wing activists like Laura Loomer, who highlighted Schleifer’s past anti-Trump comments made during an unsuccessful Democratic congressional bid. This unusual intervention bypassed traditional Justice Department channels.
Sources close to the matter noted the rarity of the White House directly intervening in the dismissal of a career prosecutor, a process typically handled within the Justice Department. This action, particularly the manner of Schleifer’s departure via email, underscored a departure from standard protocol and fueled speculation regarding the motivations behind the unprecedented move by the Trump Administration.
Following the dismissal, Wiederhorn’s legal team, including Nick Hanna of Gibson Dunn, expressed profound gratitude, asserting their client’s innocence from “day one.” Hanna stated that the U.S. Attorney’s Office had “listened to our arguments and determined, in the interests of justice, that all charges should be dropped,” highlighting the defense’s consistent claims of no wrongdoing in the federal case.
Douglas Fuchs, another attorney for Wiederhorn, further characterized the government’s decision as an “appropriate step,” emphasizing that the case allegedly involved “no victims, no losses and no crimes.” This assertion reflects the defense’s perspective that the Justice Department’s continued pursuit of the charges was unwarranted and lacked substantial merit, leading to this significant outcome.
Andy Wiederhorn himself conveyed his appreciation, stating he was “grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for taking a fresh look at this case” and thanked his attorneys for their tireless efforts. He affirmed his intention to now focus entirely on the “continued growth and success of FATBrands” following the resolution of the protracted legal battle, signaling a move past the challenging period for his company.
The unopposed motion to dismiss the case was signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Reidy, under the interim U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli. Essayli is known for his vocal support of the Trump agenda, particularly evident in his social media presence and public statements, adding another layer to the complex narrative surrounding the dismissal of this high-profile federal case against a prominent Trump donor.
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