While serving as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Rosenberg initiated several noteworthy prosecutions. His office brought dogfighting charges against suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was sentenced to 23 months in prison after court hearings that drew protesters and animal rights activists. Rosenberg was heavily involved in the government's death penalty case against convicted September 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2006. Other priorities during Rosenberg's term as U.S. Attorney included child pornography cases, which have been increasing, along with violent crime and mortgage fraud. During his years as a federal prosecutor, Rosenberg conducted grand jury investigations and has been the lead trial lawyer in many federal prosecutions involving espionage, kidnapping, murder, crimes against children and complex financial fraud cases. “Throughout his distinguished career in law enforcement and public service, Chuck has earned the trust and the praise of his colleagues at every level,” said former Attorney General Loretta Lynch. “He has proven himself as an exceptional leader, a skilled problem-solver, and a consummate public servant of unshakeable integrity. And he has demonstrated, time and again, his deep and unwavering commitment not only to the women and men who secure our nation, but to the fundamental values that animate their service.”
Controversy
operations have not focused on heavy enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act against persons and organizations acting within state laws which allow medical cannabis cultivation and distribution. However, as the DEA's Administrator, Chuck Rosenberg reaffirmed that marijuana is not medicine and remains an experimental substance which requires extensive testing before marijuana can be considered for medicinal application. In August 2017, Rosenberg found himself at odds with the Trump administration over the President's remarks encouraging the police "be rough" with suspects. His internal memo to the DEA workforce gained public attention for Rosenberg's repudiation of Trump's remarks. In it, Rosenberg wrote: "The President, in remarks delivered yesterday in New York, condoned police misconduct regarding the treatment of individuals placed under arrest by law enforcement... I write to offer a strong reaffirmation of the operating principles to which we, as law enforcement professionals, adhere. I write because we have an obligation to speak out when something is wrong. That’s what law enforcement officers do. That’s what you do. We fix stuff. At least, we try." The Washington Posteditorial board, in a piece titled "A divided nation gets moral guidance - but not from Trump," wrote: "His letter was important not as a rebuke to the president but as a model of leadership and courage in reaffirming democratic values."
Resignation
On September 26, 2017, it was announced that Rosenberg, dismayed by the Trump administration, was stepping down. His resignation became effective October 1, 2017. It was announced on October 3, 2017 that Robert W. Patterson, who had been serving as the DEA's Principal Deputy Administrator since November 2016, had succeeded Rosenberg as Acting Administrator for the DEA.
On November 13, 2017, Rosenberg initiated his role as an MSNBC contributor with an interview on The Rachel Maddow Show. He is currently a senior counsel and a member of the White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group at Crowell & Moring.
