Alexander Flores, Senior Counsel at Singleton Schreiber in Albuquerque, was recently featured in a March 21, 2025, article by Source NM, titled "Federal Prosecutor from New Mexico Resigns Over Trump ‘Politicizing and Weaponizing’ the DOJ."
The article details Mr. Flores' decision to resign from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico on March 7, 2025, citing growing ethical concerns about what he described as the politicization of the Department of Justice under President Trump’s second administration.
According to Mr. Flores, the administration has threatened to punish law firms representing political opponents, dismantled the Civil Rights and Public Integrity sections, used the Alien Sedition Act to eliminate due process protections in deportation proceedings, and put forth arguments in court challenging Native American citizenship, - the latter becoming a personal turning point for Mr. Flores, whose spouse and children are enrolled members of New Mexico Pueblos.
“The administration is politicizing and weaponizing the department, turning its powers on political enemies, punishing dissenters and turning its mission on its head. I found it unconscionable that we were citing that kind of law in legal arguments,” said Mr. Flores.
Source NM also outlines internal culture shifts at DOJ that Mr. Flores addressed in his resignation letter, particularly criticizing a new directive—believed to be influenced by Elon Musk and issued by the Office of Personnel Management—requiring federal employees to submit five work accomplishments. He described the request as alarming and out of step with his experience in both the Marine Corps and DOJ.
“The idea that an external entity, not even belonging to the U.S. government, would demand work updates was asinine. I think that the purpose of that organization has not been to increase the efficiency of government but instead to gut and handicap government,” Flores said in his letter.
The article also highlights Mr. Flores’ extensive background, including his previous service in the Marine Corps as both a prosecutor and instructor on the law of war, his start at the DOJ in 2020 during Trump’s first term, and his role co-leading the Indian Country Crimes Section while at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including personally prosecuting nearly 200 federal felony cases related to crimes in and affecting Native lands.
Source NM closes the article by noting Mr. Flores' recent transition to Singleton Schreiber (where he now focuses on personal injury, environmental litigation, mass torts, and wildfire claims) as well as his reflections since leaving the DOJ:
“I reminded my fellow prosecutors that although we have now witnessed certain senior government officials engage in gross, politically motivated abuses of power, each of us can stand firm by our oath. By doing so, we safeguard New Mexico’s citizens and preserve our own honor.
Good people remain in the department and remain in government doing the good, critical and necessary work. This was a very personal decision, and even though I could not go on serving in this administration, I am glad, heartened and grateful that other people are staying.”
